I'm fairly new to offshore fishing and can't seem to catch a tuna. I have a Aquasport Explorer 250 with T-150's and a hard top. There is a pair of 15' outriggers attached to the hard top. I have a fairly large selection of offshore tackle. I normally run a seawitch w/hoo off the long outrigger, squid chain with a cedar plug on short outrigger. Bird with a green machine long middle with a spreader bar short middle. I run about 7 mph when trolling. and have been going out of Oregan Inlet. I've had success with dolphin but no tuna. Any advice would be welcome. I recently went out of Hatteras but missed the Tuna bite, it was further north.

Sounds like you're on the right track. I would try running the cedar plug without the squid chain in the flat position right in the prop wash...drives tuna nuts. Replace the cedar plug with a rigged ballyhoo on the chain.

The rest of your spread sounds good. I like running the spreader bars in the middle of the pack with single baits in the long so it resembles a breaking up bait ball. Next time out, you may want to run your baits further back then you normally do..add an extra 30-50 feet on everything but your flat lines; keep those cedar plugs close.

OI can be difficult due to extreme boat pressure. Down there you may want to run a ballyhoo or lure on a planner with a long leader.

Don't give up, just keep trying different things: speed, spread distance, etc...you'll get 'em and when you do, it will be big!!

Catch 'em Up!!

--Don

I HIGHLY recommend going on someone else's boat a couple times, ask a ton of questions, work the pit, and be observant of everything that falls into place from AM to PM... you'll be amazed at the results.

How far out are you running? Were you in an area that other Tuna were being caught?

Eric

Maybe try a planer bait. BFT seem to like deep baits as well as surface. Take a look at a sea surface temp sat shot and get an idea of temp breaks /bait upwellings. Fish the temp breaks. It's been a real hit and miss year so far for the VA coast. OC has been much more consistent. But, it is getting better. Read "Fishing YFT" by Dave Prebble or "TUNA" by Capt Bill Smith. Lastly, have you checked your boat for hidden Bananas.

Don,

I have a few questions for you. First is: how far in the prop was do you run a plug? I will be targeting some offshore spots that I can reach in my boat safely this year (Cigar/Hot Dog, etc.) I have a half way arsenal of baits to pull; however, I need some of the magic stuff I’m reading about on this site (your stuff). I need to know what to purchase, where to pull, etc. I would like to chat and buy some stuff at the next meet and greet if possible. I will also offer a free ride out (beer, food, gas, women (JJ about the women part) if you would like to take a run to some spots. Can you fill me in on the next M&G? Also, to all on the board: I have the buddy list and I would like to have buddy boat for my voyage. I will make the run when I hear the chatter on the board that our folks our heading out. I run from Rudee. Thanks to all.

Fin Stoked
Travis Frederick
757-4302140

Thanks

I ran out with the charters out of Hatteras and saw tuna being caught. Also ran out with the charters out of Oregan Inlet, didn't see any tuna being caught.

tuna are an animal that you will only catch when they are there .... sounds stupid, but it is true. get on the fish you will catch them. yes there are tips that will help you catch more, but put the spread in the wakes and find those fish!

if you in the fish and not hooking up, start playing with things ... planers, hoo's, daisy chains, spreader bars, deep drop backs. you will eventually figure out what they want.

but .... they gotta be there ... so go and find them! good luck, it will happen.

- bo

The last time out I was out of Oregan Inlet and ran out 45 miles to the Temperature Break and close to the upwellings. Didn't here of many tuna being caught on the radio, more complaining of no tuna. Was really lucky on a weed line where we caught to nice dolphin. A 51 lb and a 22 lb 13 oz. Thanks for the reading material.

I might add if I may...try playing with the trim on your outboard while trolling. By raising your engine, you can create a bigger wake, more splash behind the boat. This brings the Tuna up. Spreader bars are important for multiple hookups, the Rasta Color bars are becoming quite popular, I have Pink, Green and Blue and white spreaders. IF you catch a Tuna, make sure you work that area hard. If there's one fish there's more and you are in the right place. Alot of good info up in this thread but I suspect you may know that...51Lb Dolphin is very nice,,,must know what you're doing a little bit....Bob

Agree with the others that you are on the right track, and that the Tuna need to be there as well. We have seen them hit on a pulled plug with wire (our Bluefish rig) and almost everything in our spread. I like the idea about trimming the boat differently to change your wash and the sounds. The boat has to help you bring up fish. Try more splash in your set-up (Bird and Green Machine) etc. to help bring them up. Lean towards a leader-shy set-up if they are not coming to the baits. Good luck, you'll do fine. Keep at it.

Check for bananas!

Tight lines!
Dave

Travis,

On the flats I like one cedar plug back about 15-20 feet and the other one back just behind it. If you make up one of those cedar plug chains that Marlin Maniac uses, put that out too. They drive the tuna crazy and its great to see them roll on the baits right behind the boat.

As for the free ride...I'd be happy to go, but you took out the women offer...sorry no women , no go!!

--Don

Your spread and selection sound about right, are you getting knockdowns at all? Hook sizes should be 8-9. Try running squid spreader bar teasers on each side a little further back than marlin teasers; about the first wake. A comment noted above was right, the tuna have to be under you to catch em'. It's been my experience if the tuna are there, they will bite!

Have not tried playing with the motor trim, will try that next time out. I have three spreader bars, pink, green and blue/white.

I've had a couple but not many. I had been rigging my hoo with those spring hoods but have recently learned to punch the eyes and use wire. I can see a big difference in the way they run thru the water. I threw the spring hoods away. Question on the spreader bars, Are you running them off the outriggers or from a rod holder. Not sure what marlin teaser is.

[quote=Billable,Jul 11 2006, 04:52 AM][quote=bobdu11,Jul 11 2006, 04:33 AM]I might add if I may...try playing with the trim on your outboard while trolling.  By raising your engine, you can create a bigger wake, more splash behind the boat.  This brings the Tuna up.  Spreader bars are important for multiple hookups, the Rasta Color bars are becoming quite popular, I have Pink, Green and Blue and white spreaders.  IF you catch a Tuna, make sure you work that area hard.  If there's one fish there's more and you are in the right place.  Alot of good info up in this thread but I suspect you may know that...51Lb Dolphin is very nice,,,must know what you're doing a little bit....Bob
[/quote]

Agree with the others that you are on the right track, and that the Tuna need to be there as well. We have seen them hit on a pulled plug with wire (our Bluefish rig) and almost everything in our spread. I like the idea about trimming the boat differently to change your wash and the sounds. The boat has to help you bring up fish. Try more splash in your set-up (Bird and Green Machine) etc. to help bring them up. Lean towards a leader-shy set-up if they are not coming to the baits. Good luck, you'll do fine. Keep at it.


Alright what's this thing with the Bananas. When and where is this Meet and Greet.

Check for bananas!

Tight lines!
Dave

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We run a lot of spreader bars and I mean big ones--sometimes as many 7 at a time. As Bob and Don says it is this huge number of baits that will draw in the school and get you multiple hits. I also agree with Woody --sometimes the tuna are simply not there and you cannnot find them for love or money. We have found that if that is the case all that plastic on the spreader bars can sometimes be counterproductive. I notice on slow tuna days I get more dolphin strikes when I get off of spreader bars and just stay with the meat. Anybody else see this effect?

Kent

OI Charter are out to catch Dolphin and take people on a boat ride. Being at the right place and time is more crutial than anthing else.

That is just my opinion

I use wire in lieu of spring hoods 100% of the time. The teaser spreaders are run from the teaser glass eyes on the riggers. Marlin teasers are generally unnatural items that cause a lot of commotion in the water, without hooks. Blue marlin teasers are large and can be expensive, they love to try and eat em right in front of you.

I understand the reason for mulitiple spreader bars. Do you match colors. I only have 1 large pink, 1 med green and 1 small blue/white. Large = 12" squid, med = 9" squid and small = 6" squid. I don't believe my out riggers could handle the pull of a spreader bar. I could see 1 off each corner of the hard top and 1 in the middle.

Jake

I believe I know what your talking about. Is this where there is a hard mounted reel for each outrigger. I don't have it set up that way yet but could before my next trip. How far back in the spead does the teaser need to be?

Jake

Your getting alot of positive advice but i will give you one in which i use all of the time and it will surprise the bejesus out of alot of guys. Take a seven inch bass assasin in albino shad color with a mustad 7/0 hook tie a palomar knot to hook or crimp with black crimp. Install hook up side down not in hook slot as it is ment to be. run thirty feet of flouro to no 6 planer painted flat black, Troll at 5.5 to 6.5 knots run planer off side of boat with one engine off for a clearer prop wash if the tuna are there u will get them.
5 for 7 last friday by 11 am If u can, set up planer Hatteras style if u need to know how to do it call me 301 343 7431 Connector

[quote=conch27,Jul 11 2006, 01:53 PM][quote=Yankee Rowboat,Jul 10 2006, 06:40 PM]I'm fairly new to offshore fishing and can't seem to catch a tuna. I have a Aquasport Explorer 250 with T-150's and a hard top. There is a pair of 15' outriggers attached to the hard top. I have a fairly large selection of offshore tackle. I normally run a seawitch w/hoo off the long outrigger, squid chain with a cedar plug on short outrigger. Bird with a green machine long middle with a spreader bar short middle. I run about 7 mph when trolling. and have been going out of Oregan Inlet. I've had success with dolphin but no tuna. Any advice would be welcome. I recently went out of Hatteras but missed the Tuna bite, it was further north.
[/quote]


Your getting alot of positive advice but i will give you one in which i use all of the time and it will surprise the bejesus out of alot of guys. Take a seven inch bass assasin in albino shad color with a mustad 7/0 hook tie a palomar knot to hook or crimp with black crimp. Install hook up side down not in hook slot as it is ment to be. run thirty feet of flouro to no 6 planer painted flat black, Troll at 5.5 to 6.5 knots run planer off side of boat with one engine off for a clearer prop wash if the tuna are there u will get them.
5 for 7 last friday by 11 am If u can, set up planer Hatteras style if u need to know how to do it call me 301 343 7431 Connector

[/quote]

Thanks, I don't know what a Hatteras style is. If you don't mind I'll call you on Friday for the set up. I'm currently in Corpus Christi, Texas finishing up a Job. I'd like to have the planner in front of me when I talk to you, I'll be home then.

Jake

last week we went to the fingers and north and picked up tuna on plain cedar plugs on the flat lines close in, got 'em quickly and came in, no hoo's nothing, single cedar plugs,
what a sparse rig - went sunday with BillableOurs and got tuna (with Don from Reel Lures) and dolphin --- oh bye the way what gentlemen those two guys are, Dave and Don, if you get a chance to work with Don I would recommend it - what a pro!!!!! Also a ride on Billable Ours is soft, Capt. Dave can smooth out the seas.

I'd like to thank you all. You've given me alot of good info. I have to do some homework and rigging. If anyone's got a spot on there boat to give me some hands on instruction.

Jake 757-617-4256

If it's an help. Most of the Tuna I've caught had small squid in their stomach. So when you are talking spredder bars. I would use 4" and 6" squids. I also catch alot of tuna on sea witches. another great bait is a bird with a green machine way out the back

What size bird and what color. I have a med. and large both orange. How far back is way out back.

Jake

[quote=Yankee Rowboat,Jul 12 2006, 09:12 PM][quote=Seaslammer,Jul 12 2006, 08:24 PM]If it's an help. Most of the Tuna I've caught had small squid in their stomach. So when you are talking spredder bars. I would use 4" and  6" squids. I also catch alot of tuna on sea witches. another great bait is a bird with a green machine way out the back
[/quote]

What size bird and what color. I have a med. and large both orange. How far back is way out back.

Jake

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I am new to this site and have really enjoyed the advice (and banter) from all of the experienced captains. Last year was my first successful effort with yellowfin which we found predominantly around waynes world and the 30 F line southward from WW. Our catches were all either on Green machine chains behind 12 in birds---- way back, or on B/W squid bars fished from our out of horizontal rod holders(T-Top) essentially in a short rigger position. A few hits deep on spoons but no hookups. Suprisingly--- nada on cedar plugs or skirted ballyhoo.
I'd agree that fighting fish on single lure lines would be preferable and easier at boatside and I look forward to implementing some of these suggestions.
To the extent that reading can add to fishing knowlege base , I ran across two interesting TUNA articles in OCt 2002 Sportfishing. 1) was on general tuna techniques including chunking, and the other was Tred Barta's last page sermon relating to Core eddies, Sat temps, staying with the bait,etc--- basic stuff but easy reading.
Also, march 2001 sportfishing had a detailed article( Blue Water Bar Hopping) about spreader bars and teasers.
I also really enjoyed Dave Prebble's book on yellowfin fishing keeping in mind that he and Barta both fish more in the N.E. canyons
I haven't seen much relating to fishing off of Va.Beach specifically but I live in Richmond and our media covers little of whats happening and it's always a week later or worse. Hoping to get out this weekend finally!! Bob Bedinger

Welcome to the board.

Good info, what's the title of Prebble's book?

-Mike

I use a green and yellow bird. the biggest one. and you can either run a green machine or a spredder bar with 6" squids. we were using green with scattard white.

All the info above sounds good one more thing I like to do is to dangel a Daisy Chain of Squid Or a Spreader Bar off the low Rigger half out of the water.It seems to work really well at times.

Thank you, I have flo orange right none. It's due for some paint. Guess I'll change the color.

Jake

I like the idea of trimming the engines up.

When I go out next weekend I'm also going to try running my engines at different RPMs.

we will be out fri sat sun first time this year thanks for the info--boat stephs gem--call me --ill share whatever if thter hope we will be hookin up--laney