So, you don't lock the drag down? Why do all the vids show guys getting dragged from one end of the boat to another and back again?
What size tuna could you possibly catch? Are we talking giant tuna in the 600+ pound range? I couldn't imagine standing up and reeling in something that big. The one my dad caught in the late 70's was close to 700 and he fought it from a chair. Took almost 3 hours and he couldn't get out of bed the next day.
From all the vids on the Voyager NJ, they look small by comparison. 50-150lbs. Average looks like the mid 60's. Usually takes two guys to gaff the thing onboard.
Ah, gotcha. 150 would be a hell of a fight standing up and I'm sure you would feel it for few days Sounds like a lot of fun!
Its a challenge for sure. I've pretty much mastered NE bottomfishing so its time to step up in class a bit. I definetly will not lock the drag down and plan to have plenty line on the spool so I don't have to horse the fish in. Hence the trips to PF now to slowly work up to being in shape for the fight I hope happens.
Ha... not sure; all the fish I've caught that size have been trolling The blue marlin I caught was on 40# mono (mahi tackle lol)... it also took over 2hrs, so that wont fly on a headboat (we had to chase him down quite a bit as I was down to the backing) I guess on a headboat it's definitely a different deal...as you can't use the boat / captain to finesse the fish (and opportunity for cluster F*cks with other anglers) and you definitely have to put more heat on 'em but I'd like to see you fighting a fish with over 30# of drag locked up
I'm sure the boat will target yellowfins at the canyons, vs trophy bluefins nearshore for multiple reasons..... we usually use a 2nd gaff on fish over 50-60lbs, so I'm sure you'd definitely want one on a bigger boat where youre alot higher above the water line..... 65-80# braid, with 20-25# drag and you'll be fine . Hoping to get up there this summer to get my cousin on some offshore fish this summer (and some nearshore fish on my brother's boat... would love to stick a big bluefin on a 17' boat)
Came on Friday! Has a back brace too. Good for us older guys out there tangling with Tuna! Got my Gloucester trips settled as well. 6 trips planned this summer along with a healthy amount of freshwater fishing too. Looking at things differently now. Getting all the expensive trips I can in before I submit my retirement papers. June - Gloucester, MA: Cod, Pollock, Haddock, Rosie Reds.. (two trips back to back) July - Canyon Trip 1: Tilefish (2-day) Sept. - Canyon Trip 2: Tuna & Mahi Nov. - Block Is. : Jumbo SeaBass and Porgys Nov. - Offshore: Jumbo Seabass, Porgy, Pollock, Cod
Getting it done man! Things are gonna be different in '24 so I had better do as much as I can now while I have the bucks..
Every time I've targeted these type species it's been trolling from a private boat. Usually Mahi arent too picky... Theyre the fastest growing fish in the sea, so they definitely eat. kinda like bluefish without the same chompers They will hit lures/plugs/jigs (white bucktails with a trailer) but use mono/fluro leader. Theyre fun to catch as they jump and go nuts.. but they cant resist a sardine or ballyhoo The best trolling lures for them imo, are smaller "chugger" heads with big eyes (blue&white and pink&blue, pink&white) with a ballyhoo, or a small blue and White "Islander" (Mahi love flying fish) One tip which is hard to control is that if getting on a school of them, if someone hooked up keeps a good size one in the water at all times it helps keep the others schooled around. Hopefully you come across a big patch of sargassum weed, or a floating board... there will most likely be some mahi underneath.... and hopefully some big wahoo under the mahi
What pound test line for Tuna? I have 50# on the Raptor. Was thinking 60# on the TLD 30. Perhaps 60lb mono leader on both? Long topshot?
Lots of variables to these questions.... what are the target size of these fish & how are you fishing for them? Trolling, jigging, casting baits? TLD30 tells me trolling. 50# mono should be fine... if you're using braid, then DEFINITELY a LONG topshot or you'll pull hooks Jigging for them / using braid, you can upsize to 65# (simply to reduce cutoff from other guys on the boat) I've read about guys trolling on longrange headboats on the west coast, but not really sure what's the protocol for something like that. But if they do, I have some plug/lure suggestions if I know what speed theyre trolling / travelling Biggest fish I've ever caught was on 40# mono (granted we had to chase it down in CC, so you wont be able to do that).... biggest wahoo and biggest mahi were both caught on 30# mono... but being on the big boat you'd want to upsize that
I think I'm ready. Now all I need to do is get my ass out there. Got the fighting belt and harness. Got the reels (AVET G2 RAPTOR/TLD30A II) spooled with 50 and 60lb braid respectively. 60# mono top shot, 6/0 heavy circle hooks, 7'6" HF Daiwa Proteus rod, 7'0" Phenix Axis MH rod, 7'2" Daiwa Terez Medium Spinning Rod/Shimano 6000 Twin Power spooled with 50# braid for Mahi. Will be purchasing sabiki rigs for live bait, weights and rubber bands. I'm I good to go?
Yeah you have the hardware... those combos should be fine Are you guys trolling at all or just livebaiting / jigging? btw, you may want 80# fluro leaders
Capt's call. Might be some combo of all the techniques. He'll get on the overhead and let us know what to use. I'll have some 80# flourocarbon Leader in time for the trip. I was thinking 100yds of 60# mono topshot. Too much or too little? I know that mono will make a great shock absorber.
For trolling, yeah that's good. If you're jigging / livebaiting dont need that much. If trolling, do you need to have your own lures? and do you know what speed? I'm guessing it would be a rotation of the guys aboard?
This trip? https://www.voyagerfishing.com/tripstackle#30-hourcanyontunamahitrip sounds like mostly chunking for tuna.... may want a couple of trolling plugs in case though and smaller ones for the dolphin
