Six to seven knots.
Trolling Speed Six to seven knots is a rule of thumb with naturals or when mixing naturals with artificial lures. Rigged bait should look like they’re swimming in the water, whether you’re pulling ballyhoo, mullet, mackerel, or squid.
What is the best speed for trolling for tuna?
Surface trolling speed of about 6 knots appear to be the optimum velocity for capturing tuna and related species, changing the speed of boats, the depth of the hook can be adjusted. Once the line hit the fish, it is detached from the outrigger and comes to the tail of the boat in order to retrieve it in a easier way.
What is the ideal trolling speed?
Generally 1.8 mph creates the best action for most crankbaits and 2.4 mph creates the best action jerk baits, you will need to test different speeds to determine the correct speed to create the best action for the pike lure you are trolling.
What is the best bait for yellowfin tuna?
Live baiting is usually the most productive method for catching yellowfin tuna. Some of the most common live baits used when tuna fishing in the gulf are threadfin herring, menhaden/pogies, blue runners/hardtails, and mullet.
How do you catch yellowfin tuna trolling?
The yellowfin often feeds near the surface of the water so use topwater techniques to catch them. Since they can see well, use fluorocarbon leader to reduce visibility and reduce abrasion. If you are trolling, use cedar plugs, tuna feathers, or plastic trolling lures that are blue or white in color.
How far behind a boat should you troll?
At least 50 yds out to 100 yds. for the main lines and a couple of shorter sets closer to the boat.
What depth do you troll in?
Your trolling should be concentrated close to or in the thermocline for best results. It will be from 15 to 50 feet down in most lakes, depending on size and depth.
Is 3 mph too fast for trolling?
The best trolling speed depends on several factors including the type of fish, water conditions and lure choice. In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph, as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.
How much line should you let out when trolling?
spread all your lines throughout the water column, c) set the bulk of your lines to run at 20 feet, know for a fact that’s where they’ll actually be, and make sure a few lines are running shallower and deeper than that depth to cover all the bases until you get a bite or three and can adjust accordingly.
What bait is best for trolling?
Skirted lures are more effective for chasing bigger fish, while soft plastics are better suited for trolling for smaller game. Spoons and plugs are versatile options, and they fall somewhere in the middle. For saltwater trolling, squid, ballyhoo, mullet, and mackerel are go-to baits for most anglers.
What size hook do you use for yellowfin tuna?
The yellowfin tuna hooks used range from 6/0 up to 10/0, depending on the size of fish around and the bait size being used. The Mustad 39950 gets used a great deal. With bigger fish over 100 lbs, crews will use 7/0-10/0. For smaller fish under 100 lbs, 6/0 and 7/0 are utilized.
What color lures do tuna like?
Lure Colors for Tuna
- Rasta Colors with a yellow-pink-blue or similar tri-colored combination are a go-to choice, for seasoned yellowfin sharpies.
- Blue-White Combinations are utterly devastating to the fish in clear blue waters.
Is it better to troll with the current or against it?
When in an area with current, troll crosscurrent as opposed to with and/or against the current. Going crosscurrent, you don’t have to worry about how the current is affecting your lure’s or bait’s speed through the water. Plus, fish generally swim into the current.
How many yards of line do I need for yellowfin tuna?
Pound & Braided line for Tuna
Your original idea of 350 to 400 yds of braid on any reel for chunking should be fine. Depending on reel size / capacity I would go 65# not so much for the extra line strength but more for the abrasion end .
Do you set the hook when trolling?
Setting the Hook While Trolling
These open water fish strike with speed and turn away, allowing the hook to be pulled to the side and embed itself into the fish’s mouth. This is why when a fish bites, the first thing you hear is the drag winding out. That indicates the hook is set, and the fish is on.
How long should a trolling tuna leader be?
Leader Length: The longer the leader, the better as tuna do not like seeing the braid to fluoro connection. I prefer a 30-foot leader for trolling which is the same leader I use for jigging. Lure Connection: My general rule of thumb is that I tie direct with a loop knot at 60lb.
Is it better to troll with mono or braid?
Mono holds knots better and costs less than braid. It also works better on smaller bait-casting reels because light braid can dig into itself. Florida sailfish and dolphin anglers still use a lot of mono on the troll, and some use it for kite lines because it runs through the clips better.
Do you need a swivel when trolling?
For fishing with spoons such as a Kastmaster, you only need to use a swivel if you’re trolling. For casting and retrieving and jigging, the spoon won’t spin enough to cause a line twist, so you can tie it directly to your line.
Is it better to troll upstream or downstream?
For all those reasons, trolling downstream is the best way to get at them. By going downhill, you can crank up the trolling speed — which allows you to cover more water and, thus, find the fish more quickly.
What size rod is best for trolling?
between 5.5 and 10 feet long
Trolling rods tend to be longer than your average fishing rod. More specifically, trolling rods tend to measure between 5.5 and 10 feet long with the perfect length depending on your specific conditions and angling skill.
Should you troll with or against the wind?
Trolling with the wind is the most important. You are able to maintain your speed better when motoring downwind than if you were bucking waves head on. Also, when heading into the wind, gusts of wind will grab the nose of your boat, whether it’s aluminum or fiberglass, and spin you off course.