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Best Tactic for YFT on GPB?

47K views 232 replies 40 participants last post by  TomH 
#1 ·
Okay, so I'm just curious about the tactics used, and the percentage rate of them? What I'm talking about is jigging, popping, chunking, flyers and Halcos. If you only had one choice and chance, which would it be?
 
#2 ·
I'm always casting off the bow, really depends on what they want. Some nights they want to chase(a heru skipjack) skipped across the surface with a high rod tip. Other nights they'll want a pop and wait. I have a bucket of lures with me and I swap out every 20-30 min depending on interest.
I'll usually start off with a halco 190, heavier than the 130, casts further and is louder. Also depends on surface activity for any given night.

After getting tired of casting or a lack of bites, I'll move to chunking. I rarely jig but always bring setups just in case that's what they want.
 
#4 ·
I'm always casting off the bow, really depends on what they want. Some nights they want to chase(a heru skipjack) skipped across the surface with a high rod tip. Other nights they'll want a pop and wait. I have a bucket of lures with me and I swap out every 20-30 min depending on interest.
I'll usually start off with a halco 190, heavier than the 130, casts further and is louder. Also depends on surface activity for any given night.

After getting tired of casting or a lack of bites, I'll move to chunking. I rarely jig but always bring setups just in case that's what they want.
Love ya square bucket with mods to hold those lure you should post a pic..
 
#5 · (Edited)
If you wanna be successful, you can't rely on just one option.
that said, I'm a caster.
The key is letting the bite determine your tactics. period.
sometimes they want to feed on the surface, sometimes deep.
sometimes large food items (flyers), sometimes small (sardines, chovies,etc). chunking is a high percentage technique when done correctly and the tunas are being actively chummed.
the answer you're looking for is PAY ATTENTION TO THE BITE and everything else will fall into place. usually....:D
 
#7 ·
96 out of 100 days
LIVE BAIT will be #1

3 out of 100 days
Dead Bait/Chunks will be #1

1 out of 100 days
Some form of lure, jig, popper, halco, etc will be #1

To catch BIG
you need to think BIG

B
ait Is Great
BIG

TP
96 out of 100 days
LIVE BAIT will be #1

3 out of 100 days
Dead Bait/Chunks will be #1

1 out of 100 days
Some form of lure, jig, popper, halco, etc will be #1

To catch BIG
you need to think BIG

B
ait Is Great
BIG

TP
Love this!☝ Haha!
 
#9 ·
I have seen it too may times where the YFT want a tiny chunk. If they are keyed on small baits they will not touch a live flyer or hardtail.
I don’t feel like you can group all the lures into the same category as they can be fished completely different.
I’d say it’s a pretty even split on topwaters and chunks if you looked at the yearly catches. Some nights the Yummee’s/Frenzy’s really shine but I’d probably have to say we catch the most yellowfin on Halcos over anything else. Poppers have their moments as well.
I see the least amount of yellows caught on jigs but they have times where they produce also, mainly if the topwater bite is dead but we are marking fish deep and if there are any BigEye around.
Live bait is great but can be difficult and time consuming to get and if the Barracudas are there then it’s almost a waste of time.
It is also pretty common to see the bite change throughout the night, mainly around moon rise or moon set. It is a good idea to be ready to change tactics according to how the fish are acting.
 
#220 ·
I have seen it too may times where the YFT want a tiny chunk. If they are keyed on small baits they will not touch a live flyer or hardtail.
I don’t feel like you can group all the lures into the same category as they can be fished completely different.
I’d say it’s a pretty even split on topwaters and chunks if you looked at the yearly catches. Some nights the Yummee’s/Frenzy’s really shine but I’d probably have to say we catch the most yellowfin on Halcos over anything else. Poppers have their moments as well.
I see the least amount of yellows caught on jigs but they have times where they produce also, mainly if the topwater bite is dead but we are marking fish deep and if there are any BigEye around.
Live bait is great but can be difficult and time consuming to get and if the Barracudas are there then it’s almost a waste of time.
It is also pretty common to see the bite change throughout the night, mainly around moon rise or moon set. It is a good idea to be ready to change tactics according to how the fish are acting.
Cap. Matt:

Are those Halco poppers or the deep divers ?
I believe you stated somewhere the pilchard color scheme ?
 
#13 ·
i say its a gamble no matter what way u fish . i personally been on trips where they had 52 yellows landed and i caught nada same lure , same bait, same jig, same chunk but thats fishing and then some times u catch limit or just one . personally im happy just throwing anything in the water and getting out with matt and the decks hands . i say halco 130 is my fav. then tossing a popper to a flyer , but i did catch my first yft on a small chunk also have landed some on fancy jigs to diamond jigs but personally i love it all and cant wait to go again
 
#16 · (Edited)
Usually those who throw the bait flag are those who have generationally been trained/pre-disposed to think that only bait will catch consistently. it's actually easy to determine where posters are coming from just from their positions on using bait.
these places would be southern/central Ca., Florida, and most parts of the Northeast.
here in the GOM, catching bait is easy, maintaining it to run 100-175 miles offshore for days on end in 90+ degree ambient temps and typical 3's @ 5 sec. makes fishing and keeping bait alive a huge pain in the ass, IMO.
Nothing wrong with fishing bait.
360tuna has never been geared towards that. All fishing reports are welcomed, but the focus is fooling big fish with artificial lures.
 
#23 ·
After wading through responses ranging from tall tales about fishing the oceans of the world to conspiracy theories, with the help and persistence of The Professional,
we were able to find the answer to your question. Hopefully, you can put it to good use.

The Professional would still suggest using bait,
because not all fishermen can cast for hour after hour,
not all fishermen can work a lure properly, these are all assumptions being made when a lure is being suggested. If an angler cannot accomplish the duration, skill and distance required with casting, then bait, live, then chunk is the choice. BIG. Think BIG to win BIG.

TP
Thank you! I always lean towards Capt Matt's advice whenever I'm on the boat with him, and w
Okay, so I'm just curious about the tactics used, and the percentage rate of them? What I'm talking about is jigging, popping, chunking, flyers and Halcos. If you only had one choice and chance, which would it be?
I just want to say "thanks" to Capt. Matt and others for the responses. My son and I will be going with him on October 22nd, and will take his advice first, as we always do...but was just curious about people's strategies? Anybody else on the 10/22 trip?
 
#25 ·
I fish the way I like to catch them. Step 1 when we pull up to the rig, i am planning to cast. I look at the water, to see if they are busting. If they are busting on top, then I start with a popper. Those get old fast so if fish are on top then I will switch to swimbaits. If no fish on top then I look to see how people are catching them. Normally I will go to a jig next to pick up BFT and catch some bait for chunking. If the chunk bite is hot I switch to chunk or if I get tired, I switch to chunk. Like liteliner said, go with the flow. On a two day trip on the big E the first night the fish were on top and it was all topwater and live flyers. Next night flat calm seas and a jig bite at 400ft, take what you get and have fun, just be prepared for all scenarios!
 
#26 ·
I agree with Capt Matt. However, chunking is probably the best way to catch yellowfin tuna. I've only had 2 or 3 trips in the last 10 years that I haven't caught a yft on a chunk. I'm sure my count is triple digits. The key for most people is learning how to chunk and pay attention to the bait and presentation. Chunking is not sitting a rod in the holder and taking a seat. It takes work and cooperation from those around you. Believe it or not the best bait to chunk is not necessarily blackfin.
 
#30 ·
I was told from the start to cut up several pieces no bigger than about 3"x3" squares or smaller, cut a pocket into one and push the hook into it. Do not hook the meat! Toss the several pieces overboard along with the one with the hook inserted. Never ever let you line become taught as you are feeding line out. That about all I know, but others may have better advice?
 
#31 ·
I get about that much, so I did this along with throwing a bucket of chum overboard prior to and fed line out.....but for how long? I had tons of line out and no hits, what to do now? Let it float and hang out there or reel it in and do it again?

How many times to do this with not hits before changing up to another strategy?
 
#33 ·
ok, so leader shy fish may put off the bite.

Lets talk hook size, I was using 100 lb flouro leader and a 9/0 or 10/0 hook and had some 6/0 rigged up on 50 flouro but was a little afraid to use it since I was seeing 100 lb tackle breaking off.

Whats a good hook size for chunking leaders?
 
#34 ·
My prior post included pictures of 4 YFT, all caught on Chunk with GPB.
I tried to make this as simple as possible to follow, its a lot, but results speak for themselves (and this was taught to me, I am just paying it forward).

My Chunking set up: Penn Squall 30 Conventional Reel with roughly 600 yards of 65 lb braid. I prefer to tie the braid to a barrel swivel that connects to 80 lb Fluorocarbon (I like a 4ft Fluro leader). Fluro leader is tied to a vermilion snapper hook (yes it is a small hook, yes some will complain it will straighten out, but I run 14-18 lbs of drag on my reel (set with a hand held scale at 10 feet of line post rod tip) and have no issues with this hook. This small hook is easy to hide in the bait and allows the bait to sink/drift at the proper pace).

-------

Steps to Chunking (at least what works for me)

1. Use Jig to catch BFT
2. BFT becomes the Chunk bait. Note: below all pieces of Chunk should include the Skin of the BFT.
3. One piece of chunk cut to roughly 3x3 inches (smaller if no bites, but that is later in this message), then cut four smaller pieces of chunk (roughly half the size of the 3x3 piece)
4. The larger piece (3x3) needs a small hole cut completely through it (running parallel to the skin, not through the skin). The hook is inserted through the cut hole in the bait. Twist the hook slightly and lodge it inside the chunk. The goal is to completely hide the hook (ask a deck hand and they will show you how to do it). If the hook is visible you will not catch anything.
5. Pull roughly 10 yards of line off the reel and hold it in your hand.
6. Toss the Hooked Chunk (and the 10 yards of line) and the 4 smaller pieces overboard together.
7. Watch the smaller pieces drift/sink, the goal is to have the free floating pieces and the hooked piece drift/sink together at the same speed.
8. With the rod in the rod holder, and the reel set to free spool, with the clicker on (using a conventional reel), use your hand to pull the line off from the rod tip allowing the hooked bait to drift/sink as the same speed as the free floating pieces. Learn the speed you need to pull line off the reel prior to all of the pieces drifting out of sight.
9. Though you can no longer see the baits, continue to pull line off the rod tip at the same pace as when you could see the bait (same constant cadence) as this will keep the baits mostly together as they drift further from you. Do this until the hooked bait is roughly 100-150 yards away from the boat.
10. Always leave the reel in free spool with the clicker on (even when not letting line out)
11. It will take half of the drift to accomplish this process. I then let the bait soak through the rest of the drift.
12. If at any point you get a bite, let the fish run for a 3-4 seconds, the loud clicking of the reel will excite everyone, then simply engage the reel. Once the reel engages there will be tension on the rod and reel (no need to set the hook) just hang on and raise the rod tip. If possible have a buddy reach over and turn off your clicker (if not a deck hand will do it, or do it yourself). If you get a bite while letting the line out, follow the same process.
13. Reel in fish, have deck hand gaff it, give the deck hand your tag number and take your picture.
14. Repeat
------------

If no bite after several attempts there are several changes to try.

1. listen to the Capt and Deck Hands, if fish are holding deep you may need to add small weights to the line to get the bait down to the proper depths
2. You may need to adjust the size of the hooked chunk. I would go smaller first. 2x2 or 1x1
3. Try changing leader length, may need to go to 6ft, 8 ft, etc up to 20ft (if you go to 20ft you will have to remove the swivel and tie braid to flruo - knot choices is up to you)
4. You may have to drop do to 65lb fluro leader or even 50lb. I have never had issues with 80lb fluro, but many are convinced it is too heavy and the fish see it. I have used the leader material on the large spool on the back of the Buccaneer and it has worked well for me also. Its your call.

There are many changes you can attempt. If others are catching YFT on chunk the easiest change is to copy them.

-------

Lastly, I tend to have a buddy or two on these trips with me, while one of us is chunking the other tends to cast Halco's, Jig Vortex's or float other baits. Once we figure out the feeding patterns of the night we switch to that method. On GPB there are 38 fishermen on the boat. Find out what the majority are doing to put YFT on the boat and do that.

Don't be afraid to take a break from YFT finishing to switch over to catching BFT. You can always go back to YFT fishing later in the trip. Have fun, that's the entire purpose of the trip.
 
#36 ·
My prior post included pictures of 4 YFT, all caught on Chunk with GPB.
I tried to make this as simple as possible to follow, its a lot, but results speak for themselves (and this was taught to me, I am just paying it forward).

My Chunking set up: Penn Squall 30 Conventional Reel with roughly 600 yards of 65 lb braid. I prefer to tie the braid to a barrel swivel that connects to 80 lb Fluorocarbon (I like a 4ft Fluro leader). Fluro leader is tied to a vermilion snapper hook (yes it is a small hook, yes some will complain it will straighten out, but I run 14-18 lbs of drag on my reel (set with a hand held scale at 10 feet of line post rod tip) and have no issues with this hook. This small hook is easy to hide in the bait and allows the bait to sink/drift at the proper pace).

-------

Steps to Chunking (at least what works for me)

1. Use Jig to catch BFT
2. BFT becomes the Chunk bait. Note: below all pieces of Chunk should include the Skin of the BFT.
3. One piece of chunk cut to roughly 3x3 inches (smaller if no bites, but that is later in this message), then cut four smaller pieces of chunk (roughly half the size of the 3x3 piece)
4. The larger piece (3x3) needs a small hole cut completely through it (running parallel to the skin, not through the skin). The hook is inserted through the cut hole in the bait. Twist the hook slightly and lodge it inside the chunk. The goal is to completely hide the hook (ask a deck hand and they will show you how to do it). If the hook is visible you will not catch anything.
5. Pull roughly 10 yards of line off the reel and hold it in your hand.
6. Toss the Hooked Chunk (and the 10 yards of line) and the 4 smaller pieces overboard together.
7. Watch the smaller pieces drift/sink, the goal is to have the free floating pieces and the hooked piece drift/sink together at the same speed.
8. With the rod in the rod holder, and the reel set to free spool, with the clicker on (using a conventional reel), use your hand to pull the line off from the rod tip allowing the hooked bait to drift/sink as the same speed as the free floating pieces. Learn the speed you need to pull line off the reel prior to all of the pieces drifting out of sight.
9. Though you can no longer see the baits, continue to pull line off the rod tip at the same pace as when you could see the bait (same constant cadence) as this will keep the baits mostly together as they drift further from you. Do this until the hooked bait is roughly 100-150 yards away from the boat.
10. Always leave the reel in free spool with the clicker on (even when not letting line out)
11. It will take half of the drift to accomplish this process. I then let the bait soak through the rest of the drift.
12. If at any point you get a bite, let the fish run for a 3-4 seconds, the loud clicking of the reel will excite everyone, then simply engage the reel. Once the reel engages there will be tension on the rod and reel (no need to set the hook) just hang on and raise the rod tip. If possible have a buddy reach over and turn off your clicker (if not a deck hand will do it, or do it yourself). If you get a bite while letting the line out, follow the same process.
13. Reel in fish, have deck hand gaff it, give the deck hand your tag number and take your picture.
14. Repeat
------------

If no bite after several attempts there are several changes to try.

1. listen to the Capt and Deck Hands, if fish are holding deep you may need to add small weights to the line to get the bait down to the proper depths
2. You may need to adjust the size of the hooked chunk. I would go smaller first. 2x2 or 1x1
3. Try changing leader length, may need to go to 6ft, 8 ft, etc up to 20ft (if you go to 20ft you will have to remove the swivel and tie braid to flruo - knot choices is up to you)
4. You may have to drop do to 65lb fluro leader or even 50lb. I have never had issues with 80lb fluro, but many are convinced it is too heavy and the fish see it. I have used the leader material on the large spool on the back of the Buccaneer and it has worked well for me also. Its your call.

There are many changes you can attempt. If others are catching YFT on chunk the easiest change is to copy them.

-------

Lastly, I tend to have a buddy or two on these trips with me, while one of us is chunking the other tends to cast Halco's, Jig Vortex's or float other baits. Once we figure out the feeding patterns of the night we switch to that method. On GPB there are 38 fishermen on the boat. Find out what the majority are doing to put YFT on the boat and do that.

Don't be afraid to take a break from YFT finishing to switch over to catching BFT. You can always go back to YFT fishing later in the trip. Have fun, that's the entire purpose of the trip.
Awesome stuff man! Thanks!

So when I prepare to chunk basically I expect to chunk across one entire drift and stop pulling line at 100-150 yards. Understood.
 
#39 ·
On the trips I have been on it's been almost all black and yellowfin on chunk and jigs. The rare exceptions have been some night time dorado on chunks, cudas on jigs, and once I saw an oceanic white tip hooked for about 20 seconds, but he ate the yellow fin who ate the chunk so I don't think that counts.
 
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