Popper Recommendation for YFT

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

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)

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)



Now that's what I'm talkin about! You'll have to let me know how the Orions and Carpenters work. I almost hate to use their lures because they are so pretty. BTW, the Sea Frog is great but you might think about putting a hook on in place of the spinner blade (which I doubt helps at night).

Just remember (about those huge stickbaits), while smaller is sometimes better, there's no replacement for displacement when it comes to Tuna Poppers. A giant pencil popper trashing on the surface can just drive 'em nuts.

I thought Yozuri's Surface GT Bull are really big.

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.

Ksong,
I believe it is the middle of Feb. You probably won't believe this but I'm coming with 90 other people. It's a men's drinking club and we bring the wives with us. I've never been to NYC and even though I have prepaid in full for the trip and cannot get a refund, I am having second thoughts.

My wife is the one that wants to go. My body tells me to never go east or north. I always head south or west. I'll let you know if I actually board the plane on this site. I do like the group I'm going with and they have plenty of stories on me and I have a boat load on them. A drinking club tends to have things happen to them. This is an annual trip and I believe it's my 20th trip. It's a different place every year and always in Feb.

I've had things happen to me with this group that will blow your mind. The closest to NYC I've been is Bermuda with this group. A classic trip while I was single. What happened to Mrbill in Bermuda will be told for centuries with this group. We have been asked to leave many hotels after the first night. The odd thing is that after we check out and leave the hotel manager will contact us to come back any time. I understand it's because of the amount of dollars generated to the hotel during our stay. I'm a poor boy, but the rest of the group tends to have very fat wallets.

I lot of the guys like to fish and we normally head to warm places. We have been to PV, Mazatlan, Cozumel, Cabo, Kona, Key West, Bahamas, St John's, Etc. The group also likes to gamble, so places with casino's also are popular. Tightass Mrbill took his wife with the drinking club to Key West on his honeymoon. There was 180 of us on his honeymoon trip. It was his wife's first trip with this group and she was in shock. He's not allowed to mention his honeymoon to anyone.

Uncle Russ:
GS calls it a men's drinking club. I'm a member of the same club. I will admit, that liquor is present at all meetings, bus rides, plane trips, and all events. The group actually does some very good things for the community. They just like to drink while raising money.

I didn't sign up for the NY trip. NY in Feb sounded horrible to me. If he goes, I'm sure something will strange will happen to him. He told me last weekend that the only thing he wants to do is go to Rupert's deli next to the David Letterman show. He also wants to visit the Bronx or Harlem for some reason. He thinks it will be very similar to boy's town in Mexico. Some poor fool will end up in a taxi with him on a trip to Harlem. It won't be his wife. She'll be shopping or at a show. He will not go to a show, I guarantee that.

100% of what you have read is true. He's only scratched the surface on these boards. It only gets better when your with him in person. I've never seen him drink sake. As far as I know, he doesn't drink anything unless it comes in a can or has ice in it.