Popper Recommendation for YFT

[ksong]

We have a jigging and popping only trip on the Carribean Sea out of Fouchon
on June 17 -20.
As most of guys who go on the trip have never fished in the Gulf of Mexico or never used poppers for tuna, I'd like to know what poppers work well for yellwfin tuna. I know you guys use Tuna Hunter, Frenzy Flyer, Yozuri's Surface GT Bull or Surface Cruiser. It'll be greatly appreciated if you give information what types of poppers work on what kinds of conditions.

[Uncle Russ]

Kil,

With your permission, I would like to add to your question: Does color matter greatly? And if so, what 2 or 3 colors are most recommended? Does the usual rule of dark at night/bright in sunlight apply?

Russ

[Minnow]

Surface cruisers work best on the rough sea, poppers work best on calm sea.
All high quality poppers will work fine. I will send you some of OTI poppers for your trip.

Uncle Russ,
I don't think color makes much different, but some fish glow in the dark, orange, and purple poppers religiously. JMO

[Ragman]

Agree with TJ!

Also, make sure to bring different length poppers as sometimes the tuna will zero in on the smaller baits and will not hit the larger GTs or Stick baits.

I've seen them only hit Zara Spook size (freshwater bait).

[ksong]

Originally Posted by Uncle Russ

Kil,

With your permission, I would like to add to your question: Does color matter greatly? And if so, what 2 or 3 colors are most recommended? Does the usual rule of dark at night/bright in sunlight apply?

Russ

I only use black Jitterbug for largemouth bass at night.
I talked with Pat known as GTFISHERMAN internationlly in Kauia and he said he likes poppers for GT with black(top)/white(bottom) colors.

Most fishermen choose colors what they like. I dont' think color doesn't make difference most of time, but I feel they sometimes prefer a particular color on particular situations.

[ksong]

Originally Posted by Minnow

Surface cruisers work best on the rough sea, poppers work best on calm sea.
All high quality poppers will work fine. I will send you some of OTI poppers for your trip.

I agree with you. Popper works better on calm sea and stickbaits work better on rough sea.

Thanks for the offer of OTI poppers. I love to experiment those poppers.

[MrBill]

If it's a real strong top water bite, you can use almost anything. I've seen a tuna caught on an empty beer can with a super mutu hook placed around the ring tab with a rubber band.

I personally believe that the presentation of the popper is way more important than the color.

By the way Ksong, you're fishing to much. Hawaii over the holidays, and now a trip for Bluefins in NC this weekend. I wish my life was as flexible as yours. I'm jealous.

[Sea Crappie]

Kil,

I'll second what Tom said about having different sizes of baits. I would certainly bring smaller poppers like the Yo-Zuri hydro tiger, the frenzy popper, and the APS Maharani. There are times where a larger lure will just not get the looks a small one will. Surface Iron works well for BFT, but can pick up YFT too.

Sometimes they seem picky about hitting surface baits. I've found that the Yo-Zuri Bonita in black/purple and ahi (in the 6" size) can be great performers. I'd be sure and bring some, along with the large Storm swim shad.

I haven't fished them yet, but I got some Carpenter Live Bait Sickbaits and they look just like a GOM flying fish (bluefish model especially). Eric Le Guyader of Orion Lures told me that their Crazy Dog and Bigfoot stickbaits did well on YFT down in Panama last year. So if you have access to the big GT style stickbaits, you might want to give those a try too.

Often the deciding factor is not color, action or size, but rather distance from the boat. The further you can cast your popper, the more likely it is to be hit. Also, if you can sight-fish the tuna, casting right on their nose will often result in a hookup.

I work my topwater lures very aggessively by default, sometimes it pays to slow down the retrieve.

Have fun

[ksong]

Originally Posted by Sea Crappie

Kil,

I'll second what Tom said about having different sizes of baits. I would certainly bring smaller poppers like the Yo-Zuri hydro tiger, the frenzy popper, and the APS Maharani. There are times where a larger lure will just not get the looks a small one will. Surface Iron works well for BFT, but can pick up YFT too.

Sometimes they seem picky about hitting surface baits. I've found that the Yo-Zuri Bonita in black/purple and ahi (in the 6" size) can be great performers. I'd be sure and bring some, along with the large Storm swim shad.

I haven't fished them yet, but I got some Carpenter Live Bait Sickbaits and they look just like a GOM flying fish (bluefish model especially). Eric Le Guyader of Orion Lures told me that their Crazy Dog and Bigfoot stickbaits did well on YFT down in Panama last year. So if you have access to the big GT style stickbaits, you might want to give those a try too.

Often the deciding factor is not color, action or size, but rather distance from the boat. The further you can cast your popper, the more likely it is to be hit. Also, if you can sight-fish the tuna, casting right on their nose will often result in a hookup.

I work my topwater lures very aggessively by default, sometimes it pays to slow down the retrieve.

Have fun

Thanks for the suggestions. I agree with Tom and you that tuna are very conscious of sizes of jigs or lures. And also I believe smaller jigs and lure can entice more bites because big lure/jig's action is harder to fool tuna.
I saw a few Orion's lures at GTFISHERMAN's when I visited Kauai.
He said those lures worked pretty good for GT.
Some of stickbaits are huge.


Orion's Big Foot 140, Big Jim 190, Carpenter's GT Y 160, Sea Frog 120 and GT Y 120 (from the top)

[ksong]

Originally Posted by MrBill

By the way Ksong, you're fishing to much. Hawaii over the holidays, and now a trip for Bluefins in NC this weekend. I wish my life was as flexible as yours. I'm jealous.

MrBill,
I still have more working days than fishing days.
It is not my fault. I don't know why God created so many gamefish in so many different areas.
Yes, my resolution of this year is to cut down my fishing trips under 100 days.

Gunsmoke said he planned visit NYC in Jan or Feb (?).
If he comes to NYC, let me know. I'd like to hear about his adventure stories in person while drinking sake.