Thread: Yellowfin

Anyone been out chasing them? Any beginners tips?

SST charts, get em and learn what the temp zones mean in your area. Head down to the local game fishing outfit where you plan to go out and buy some beers for the locals - it will save you 10 fold in fuel burn...

The other bit is if you have commercial around that are happy to yap ask them - they are usually OK with giving out the good oil on where things are at and where the fish are holding.

The bits about tackle etc are pretty much internet research, the other bit I would say is learn how to handle Tuna on the boat because it's gutting to get one and then find it's only good as bait when you get it to shore. A lot of the people who do game fishing compromise their fish to get it over the scales, if you look at what the commercial people do as soon as they can it's opened up, guts out, packed with ice, into chilling environment and the skin protected from direct contact with freezing surfaces. Can't do that in a trailer boat, but you can do a lot if you are prepared as much as you can be.

They are turning up in sorts of places this year, including 40-50 metres water depth which is not far offshore in most places, so you don't have to burn fuel to get over the horizon. Keep an eye on water temperature, but we've been catching them in 18.0 - 18.9 degrees, so not as critical as when marlin fishing. Finding bait is important. Don't ignore any signs, including a few birds sat on the surface. It's a big ocean, take all the clues. I can't get too stressed over what lures to use. As long as they're running well, that's good enough for me. Consider using large bibbed lure if you can't get skirted lures to run for whatever reason. You don't need multiple rods and outriggers, although I'm sure they help. We've caught yellowfin with just two rods, one in each corner.

Apparently a 15kg bluefin was caught out from New Plymouth Saturday in 30m of water, we had been trolling that area a couple of hours before

a lot troll but of TeKaha and Waihou bay we cubed bait a few times and successful - needs a lot of set up time and can be expensive - one needs a lot of 2in cubes of bait - if you are going to try cubing at a workup etc then you need at least 5-6 skippies and they cost- and be prepared for sharks - but done right and good sign damn good-- if you had a few albacore as we did then when you hit good sign then cut it up as chunks and toss it out - its not a method many use but it works provided you have good sign - drift with wind pushing you right and just drop in a cube every 20-30 seconds and then a cube and hook - hang on

Know some guys who have been catching them on poppers out of Whakatane this week.

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

a lot troll but of TeKaha and Waihou bay we cubed bait a few times and successful - needs a lot of set up time and can be expensive - one needs a lot of 2in cubes of bait - if you are going to try cubing at a workup etc then you need at least 5-6 skippies and they cost- and be prepared for sharks - but done right and good sign damn good-- if you had a few albacore as we did then when you hit good sign then cut it up as chunks and toss it out - its not a method many use but it works provided you have good sign - drift with wind pushing you right and just drop in a cube every 20-30 seconds and then a cube and hook - hang on

Quite a few of the old boys who cubed for a living on the nsw south coast used to bulk out their cube trail with pipi shells, with good results. Cubed plchards were the bait of choice too

If you can get onto a meat ball stray lining for them (with 3 or 4 pilchards on the hook) is unreal. Or just drop down a small metal jig.

Originally Posted by Shearer

If you can get onto a meat ball stray lining for them (with 3 or 4 pilchards on the hook) is unreal. Or just drop down a small metal jig.

I've done that with Bonito and Albacore. Their first run is awesome. Using 24 kg game setups they will peel line off.
When trolling the rod is often in the holder so you miss the feel of their initial run.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

I've done that with Bonito and Albacore. Their first run is awesome. Using 24 kg game setups they will peel line off.
When trolling the rod is often in the holder so you miss the feel of their initial run.

Yeah. I have stray-lined for YF on 15 and 10kg gear. As you say, fantastic first run then a stubborn deep circling fight. We used 3-4 anchovies on the hook otherwise the Skippies would grab them.

What area are you heading for? We have been out a couple of times this year.

Mate hooked one out near sail rock near mangawhai over the xmas period lost it. Another boat got one to the boat and it broke off. They estimated it to be 70kg. Think they are going again Monday to have another crack. Me ill just fish for some snapper for a feed.

Gotta be on point on the boat handling with the bigger models - a good driver can exhaust a fish pretty quickly and then it's the simple and easy matter of lifting it to the boat. Hahahahaha, yeah right - have seen a lot of big talking tough guys broken in that part of the fight - not as easy as it sounds sometimes. Especially if you go too hard on the fish and it tries to die on you down deep.

Originally Posted by Quackers

Mate hooked one out near sail rock near mangawhai over the xmas period lost it. Another boat got one to the boat and it broke off. They estimated it to be 70kg. Think they are going again Monday to have another crack. Me ill just fish for some snapper for a feed.

They're keen! The southwesterlies have been horrendous over the holiday period.

I was at Tutukaka today. Just part of the board, dates over a few weeks only and lots of people don't bother weighing them in.

Yip south western crap we managed to get out twice over xmas up there. And got a feed of snapper and guarnard. But had to pick our times.with the rest of auckland up there .