Anyone been out chasing them? Any beginners tips?
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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.
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 tooQuote:
Originally Posted by Barry the hunter
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
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.
They're keen! The southwesterlies have been horrendous over the holiday period.Quote:
Originally Posted by Quackers
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.
https://i.ibb.co/TW2tVQx/IMG-0786.jpg
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 .
Got 4 so far out of whakatane. last two trip been really quiet.
Hook in the skirt for tuna can help. I run floppy floppy Daisy chain on both corners. Set everything 3 waves further than marlin.
Rapala xrap got the most hit of any lure so far.
Topwater seems more effective than trolling out of whakatane, will give this a go next.
Take a LOT of ice, bleed fish properly cut below gill and on both side then pump water through troath with wash down pump until it piss clear by side cut. Pack tuna with ice.
Just curious and seeking advice on this if you have time @No.3Quote:
Originally Posted by No.3
Assuming I was ever fortunate enough to catch any kind of tuna, and assuming I have no ice on board etc., what would be the best way to keep it after you've gutted it? Cut it up and place it in the cooler? And what's the purpose behind protecting the skin... is this for cosmetics at point of sale or is there some other reason behind this?
Excuse my ignorance, but I'm genuinely interested in learning. Hoping to head out for one next week.
I would never target tuna without ice unless planning to tag them. It’s like deer you have to cool the meat fast. What do you mean by cooler? 12v fridge? If you have no other choice probably cut it on the boat in slab and in the cooler.Quote:
Originally Posted by planenutz
Tuna have a higher body temperature than the water around them which is unusual for a fish. After a long fight, temperature increases even more, so ice is essential. Smaller tuna, we gut and remove head and pack with ice. Larger models get filleted on the boat and iced down.
Best option I have found is salt ice, as it is slightly colder than regular ice when mixed into a seawater slurry. A few bags of salt ice into a chilly bin of clean seawater will drop the core temp of most fish quick enough to stop them going south on you. Protecting the skin just stops freezer burn or bruising under the skin, which collects pools of blood in recently caught fish. A wrap of fabric or paper is usually sufficient.Quote:
Originally Posted by planenutz
Some people promote iki killing fish, others shove a wire down the central nerve pathway and take out the main nerves to stop things going. I used to bleed and then gut, clean and into salt ice. Worked for me...
Thanks for the feedback team.
I'm definitely not one to go to the trouble of targeting a species and then wasting it @tibo so appreciate the advice. I most certainly hear what you're saying. I have a 12V fridge/freezer on board but accessing saltwater ice is not really possible here. Hell, you can't even buy bait in this region.
@MB and @No.3 - thanks for that intel.
I'm hoping to get out next week and have a go for some Bluefin Tuna but I'm going to have to rethink the preparations and make sure I do it justice. Cheers!
my tow cents worth once you have caught your big tuna get a photo like I did and then spend money on the good edible species hapuka bluenose - keep the tuna species for bait
That has to be a wind up to go with your snapper is the best tasting fish in the sea :wtfsmilie:Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry the hunter
no I am serious snapper is great - blue nose next level hapuka really good - love blue maomao on the BBQ - gurnard great - terakihi great - kingfish great fresh but not after freezing - tuna tried it all - no not me - smells and taste like bait - maybe yellowfin as sushimi but even then just a little - albacore skipjack bait and berley - sorry mate but you will not change my opinion
Me too. But I'd put Blue Nose top.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry the hunter
The best tuna I've tried is fresh Bonito.
Albacore just plain stink. Don't know how people eat them.
Last time I was tuna fishing thirty miles of long line with about 900 hooks was quite effective.
I don't care what you like/don't like, just thought you were taking the piss! In my opinion, bluenose if fine eating for a white fish, but I'd rather have tuna for sushi, sashimi, ceviche or seared steaks.
yes if you like it eat it but how many fish and chip shops in NZ sell battered tuna of any sort I rest my case
Fish and Chups, the height of haute cuisine
I'm not sure what the point of this discussion is. Some guys want to catch a yellowfin. Everyone has different tastes and different fish suit different styles of cooking.
I see a Bluefin sold at a Tokyo market for $3.1 million yesterday. Would make your takeaways pretty expensive:D
I have caught mine some years ago- got the photo thats enough for me - now want a kingi over 35KGQuote:
Originally Posted by MB
It would want to taste better than the ones I've tried.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
where are you going for a look? assuming your in Arrowtown? so headed to Jacksons or Greymouth? loads of salt ice in Greymouth and there's some at the fish place in Jacksons and at the last gas station before Jacksons too. There have only been a few caught out of Milford so far. but they are on their way!
Yes, located in Arrowtown. Headed for Milford. My son was in there the week before Christmas and saw what he thought were tuna from a cruise boat so they must be just starting to head down that way.Quote:
Originally Posted by robhughes-games
Thanks for the info on Jacksons Bay and Greymouth. Rob - I'll keep that in mind for any future trips to the West Coast.
Some entertaining responses regarding tuna in this thread. :D
I love the taste. Way better than any white fish, just like a steak.
I got a 105kg last year. Sent a sample to Hills labs for mercury tests and it was 3mg/kg which is real high. Commercial limits for fish is like 0.3mg/kg.
I'm going to test the next 30kg model. It's likley an age/ accumulated issue. Might be keeping the little ones and throwing the big ones back.
Any action out of Napier?
First Yellow Fin Tuna landed off New Plymouth today.... They have finally arrived!!
Who's boatQuote:
Originally Posted by Double_massive
Sent from my CPH2531 using Tapatalk
Was commercially fishing tuna in a past life. MaF required a course be completed in catch handling as a prerequisit. The essentail points werw as follows
1. Boat the fish asap. A long fight would create heat buildup and destroy the flesh quality making it
unacceptable to the export market .
2, Gaff only in the head
3. The fish should be killed, bled, gutted and gilled and placed in an ice slurry within one minute of capture
3. Kill by use of a core driven into top of head to destroy the brain
4. To beed, pierce lateral line just behind pectoral and just forward of tail.
5. Cut to free gut around anal vent.
6. Use very sharp short blade to remove gill set without cutting the throat. Pull gills and guts out forwards. The belly of fish not to be opened at all. 6. Make sure belly cavity is filled with salted ice before placing fish into salt ice slurry.
Any improper processing would render fish unsaleable at export auctions.
Game fishing fever is in full swing. Boats backed up to the road from the boat ramp at Tutukaka. This is Northland, not Auckland, but you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise! Probably getting on for $50 million worth of trailer boats alone, then there's the launches in the marina.