casting rod tor tuna

[6x6]

I have a 7' TSUNAMAMI rod that is rated 20# - 50# line it is topped with a TRINIDAD 30 spooled with 40# mono. I have made a 14# dead lift without it breaking. The combo will cast a 3 1/2 oz. popper close to 100 yards.WILL THIS COMBO BE SUFFICIENT FOR CASTING TO YELLOW FIN ????????

[Snagged]

Kil,
One of the strange things about popper fishing is that the fish usually come in fast.

[ksong]

Originally Posted by Snagged

Kil,
One of the strange things about popper fishing is that the fish usually come in fast.

That is true for jigging too, especially when you use treble hooks. It seems tuna don't fight hard when they can not open/close mouth well. When we hook tuna on poppers and jigs, we usually crank before tuna turn their heads and besides, there are only 50 -100 yards of line when hooked.

[atunatado]

Thanks for the reply Uncle Russ.

[Bazztex]

Atunatado

Been Tuna fishing since the mid 70's to Include Texas, North Carolina and Cali and have caught 4 Species.. am I an expert.. No Way.. but have enough experience to tell you what Wont Work on a party boat with 15- 40 anglers with lines in the water. How many have I caught 100s?? but Who's counting LoL

40 Lb tackle is fine if you have the skill, room and time to work a big fish on a sport boat with the other lines cleared. When we fish the GOM as a large group it's on a head boat it's a matter of control.

I have used a Torium 30 loaded with 65# power pro and Penn Formula SST 7ft 30-80# to box 3 YFT each over 90# with the largest 125# all on Top-waters... not bad for GOM... I also had 3 over 150# hand me my butt on the same rig. Boxed 5 lost 3 due to pulled hooks and one cut off on the hull.

Conventional

An Avet LX 3/6, John Baker 8 (2 Speeds), Saltiga 40, Trinidad 40 is a pretty fair reel that will give you enough drag and line capacity and a 7ft 50-60# class rod like a Calstar 700ML or 700H.. I have also heard great reports about the OTI 7ft and 7'6" conventional or Spinning.

The trade off between the Calstar 700 ML is a softer tip makes it easier to cast, but less lifting power.. the 700H has plenty of lifting power but it takes a larger weighted popper to load the tip. Preferance between the two most likely will depend on your size and weight.

Spinning

I have a Stella 20000 FA loaded with 65# JB-1 solid and Bar Bar Tackle 7ft 50# Baston Hybrid Grafite/E-glass Tip and a Back up Spheros 14000 FA loaded with 65# Power pro and a Bar Bar Tackle 6'6" 60# Baston Hybrid rod. I am also going to try a Cabo 80 on a Accurate / Calstar 765 ML 30-80#

You can also Free style jig Aj's and Tuna with any of these 50-60# rigs.

Bazz

[atunatado]

Thanks Bazztex, good information.

[Uncle Russ]

Snagged:Actually, far from trying to infect atunatado, I am trying to serve as a pathetic example of what not to do (although I am only a cheap ho compared to some on this board)--that is, buying tackle until you have lost your mortgage, your car, and your furniture, and you are living under a bridge with your tackle.

kilsong:I am barely able to cast 70 yards, and that, with the 9 foot Souls. I did about 65 with the OTI heavy prototype and the 8 foot 80P/35. I can only get about 65 with the 700H or 700XH, depending on lure weight. (This was in practice, of course.) With the conventional 700h, 665 2-speed, and 80 pound braid, I practically fell down with the lure stuck in my uh, ear.

I have heard how much easier it is to land a tuna popping or jigging and would love to experience that. So far, my fight time, on much heavier trolling tackle, for a 75 pounder is more like an estimated 7 minutes. So maybe it would be easier at that.

Russ

[ksong]

Russ, you still can get enough bites in 40 - 60 ft.
You can increase casting distance after a few trips or practice.
Even good casters of conventional reels, they will have tangled lines sometimes and it could be a pain to untangle lines at night, especially when bites are hot. That is why I decided to use spinning reels for popping tuna.

[Ragman]

Hey 6x6!

You should also consider putting 65# spectra and a short leader on your reel.

The Trini 30 holds about 275 yards of 40# mono. If you're casting 100 yards of it, you could be cutting line capacity close if you hook into a bigger tuna.

[awesum]

Originally Posted by Bazztex

Spinning
Back up Spheros 16000 FA loaded with 65# Power pro ....Bazz

Spheros 16000 FA ??????

Can you elaborate a little for me on this Charlie?

[Bazztex]

Sorry for the mistake Bobby..

It's a Spheros 14000 FA with Carbontex drag washers ... I have it corrected now... DOH