[ShadowCaster]

Hi,

I'm planning to hook my first fair size (30-50kg or ~65-110lb) Yellofin or Bluefin Tuna on poppers or stickbait and is looking for recommendations on locations and time of the year to go. I don't think I'm ready to tangle with the big 100kg or 220lb cows yet.. So looking for a location where I'll likely encounter a higher numbers of fair size fishes in the 30-50kg ranges...

So far I'm looking at Muscat, Oman for Yellowfin and Ancona, Italy for BlueFin. Are there any recommendations for other locations which may be just as if not more productive for Tuna popping? Which is the best month of the year to go?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ryan Dezwarte]

You can also come to one of the birth places for tuna plugging/popping, Japan! . Come during the summer months. YFT off the eastern coast, around Mie or Wakayama prefecture average 30~80kg. If you ever have the chance let me know!

 

[ShadowCaster]

Hi Ryan, Wakayama sounds exciting! Are there any English speaking sportsfisihing charter in that area? How do I get in contact with them please? Thanks & Best Regards.

 

[Ryan Dezwarte]

Hey! Its a bit tricky, i do not know of any english speaking charters. It would be better if you could meet up with someone who speaks english and go with. I go every month so maybe we could pair up and book a few days !
The boats usually carry around 3,4~5 people max, so its very limited load. Reservations also need to be booked wayyyy in advance. The tuna season here is HOT
Tight lines!

 

[Greasylake]

The tuna season here is HOT

I've seen some videos of tuna fishing in Sagami bay and wow it's a boat show! I'm guessing because it's so close to Tokyo, it's a pretty pressured area.
What's it like at Wakayama? It's not far from Osaka so I'm guessing it's a pretty similar show to Sagami?
Japanese tuna fishing is very unique, definitely on my bucket list.

 

[Ryan Dezwarte]

Yea, Sagami is very unique. High pressure and the fish are smaller. Mahimahi fishing is popluar there as well.

On the other hand, Wakayama or Mie prefecture is not pressured at all. The fish are also alot bigger on average. In Sagami, they usually use around PE4~5 , where in Wakayama/Mie we use PE 6~10. Occasionally we also catch BFT which exceed 100kg.

 

[Pieter]

Hi,

I'm planning to hook my first fair size (30-50kg or ~65-110lb) Yellofin or Bluefin Tuna on poppers or stickbait and is looking for recommendations on locations and time of the year to go. I don't think I'm ready to tangle with the big 100kg or 220lb cows yet.. So looking for a location where I'll likely encounter a higher numbers of fair size fishes in the 30-50kg ranges...

So far I'm looking at Muscat, Oman for Yellowfin and Ancona, Italy for BlueFin. Are there any recommendations for other locations which may be just as if not more productive for Tuna popping? Which is the best month of the year to go?

Thanks in advance!

I really reconmend roned sportfishing in riumar, spain.... Spring april may is popper time... Summer they use different bait system but you're still trowing... This is the size bleufin in summer on a little stickbait, he charges 575 a trip for the boat... Most of the time you can split the boat with others is you're travelling alone. Ron and Javi are the best guys and youre garanteed catching bleufin (if you're the lucky one hooking it or listening to Ron or Javi).

Roned Espana Ebro Delta Riumar - - ENGLISH

RONED SPORTFISHING Visvakantie, Meervalvissen, Tonijnvissen, little big game vissen vliegvissen op de Ebro-Delta Spanje of zeevissen op de Middellandse Zee

roned.es

 

[captquala]

ALSO MORACO FOR BFT. PANAMA OR UMAN FOR YFT

 

[ShadowCaster]

Yea, Sagami is very unique. High pressure and the fish are smaller. Mahimahi fishing is popluar there as well.

On the other hand, Wakayama or Mie prefecture is not pressured at all. The fish are also alot bigger on average. In Sagami, they usually use around PE4~5 , where in Wakayama/Mie we use PE 6~10. Occasionally we also catch BFT which exceed 100kg.

Thanks Ryan for the info, I'm really interested in fishing Wakayama. Japan is still closed to individual tourist travel as far as I am aware, so hopefully I can plan for something next Summer in 2023. Don't mind if I PM you for more details. Best regards.

 

[Ryan Dezwarte]

Thanks Ryan for the info, I'm really interested in fishing Wakayama. Japan is still closed to individual tourist travel as far as I am aware, so hopefully I can plan for something next Summer in 2023. Don't mind if I PM you for more details. Best regards.

Sure thing, I cant guarantee fish every trip, but if you hook up i can gurantee 40kg and up. Best months are July~Sept. Went out 3 times last year, hooked up 3 times and landed one, 66kg.

 

[nicknotsebast]

where are you based ?
why would cape cod bluefin not be a top contender ? also a june-october thing and can be on fire anywhere around the cape in that window.
last week it was N of P Town (the tip of the cape). many many individuals with multiple fish 50-55” (50kg ish) all on topwater or swim baits when the shearwaters got bad.

 

[ShadowCaster]

Sure thing, I cant guarantee fish every trip, but if you hook up i can gurantee 40kg and up. Best months are July~Sept. Went out 3 times last year, hooked up 3 times and landed one, 66kg.

Thanks Ryan for the information. I hope Japan will open up to individual tourist soon!

 

[ShadowCaster]

where are you based ?
why would cape cod bluefin not be a top contender ? also a june-october thing and can be on fire anywhere around the cape in that window.
last week it was N of P Town (the tip of the cape). many many individuals with multiple fish 50-55” (50kg ish) all on topwater or swim baits when the shearwaters got bad.

Hi Nick,

Appreciate the information on Cape Cod! I'm based in Singapore and basically any location where I can catch a Tuna on top-water is a long way to travel anyway so it's fair game. Lol.

I had the impression that the BlueFins at Cape Cod are usually cows are that can weight up to 200++lbs that takes hours to land, might be out of my legue for the moment. As a Tuna noob I though I should start with something more managable like those that are around 30kg to 50kg on PE8 or PE6 gear. . Is that an option at Cape Cod? Are you able to recommend any boat Captains or Charter that specialises in Top-Water popping or stickbait for Tuna out of Cape Cod?

Thanks in advance!

 

[nicknotsebast]

there’s a fishery dedicated to larger and giant bluefin but there is absolutely several charter captains that specialize in topwater, “light tackle”, run and gun style bluefin tuna chasing. plenty of the 30 to 50kg class fish. you can see some “samples” at my instagram @captainethanh

 

[lbanfield]

Hi Nick,

Appreciate the information on Cape Cod! I'm based in Singapore and basically any location where I can catch a Tuna on top-water is a long way to travel anyway so it's fair game. Lol.

I had the impression that the BlueFins at Cape Cod are usually cows are that can weight up to 200++lbs that takes hours to land, might be out of my legue for the moment. As a Tuna noob I though I should start with something more managable like those that are around 30kg to 50kg on PE8 or PE6 gear. . Is that an option at Cape Cod? Are you able to recommend any boat Captains or Charter that specialises in Top-Water popping or stickbait for Tuna out of Cape Cod?

Thanks in advance!

There are many tuna around the cape that are smaller under the 150 pound mark. New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island have had a good runs of smaller Bluefin mixed with yellows the pas few years. This year the fish south of the cape have been slow to fill in jus they are here now. Any of the good charters around will work with you and target a size class if they are around in different groups.

 

[Pete Robbins]

If you decide to venture a little bit further from home, we have space on our November trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge: Topwater Tuna Fishing in Panama — Half Past First Cast

Good group of people, serious anglers and easygoing to be around.

 

[Pacific Bluefin]

Nobody’s brought up San Diego? Bluefin bite’s been off the charts for the last 9 years. And in the late summer/fall there’s always an amazing yellowfin bite. Poppers are always an option. Lots of 70-200 pound bluefin and the yellowfin are generally between 20-70 pounds with the occasional chance at the 70-120 pound fish.

 

[ShadowCaster]

Nobody’s brought up San Diego? Bluefin bite’s been off the charts for the last 9 years. And in the late summer/fall there’s always an amazing yellowfin bite. Poppers are always an option. Lots of 70-200 pound bluefin and the yellowfin are generally between 20-70 pounds with the occasional chance at the 70-120 pound fish.

Hi Pacific Bluefin, do you have any guide outfit to recommend for such fishing please? Preferably land based. Thanks!

 

[Pacific Bluefin]

Shadowcaster, not entirely sure what you mean by land based. There’s a lot of really good boats to pick from. Most of them are 60-85 foot long sportfishing boats with tons of bait. They’re sort of floating hotels with every amenity you might want to have when on vacation. Happy to answer any questions you might have about San Diego fishing if you want to message me.

 

[ShadowCaster]

Shadowcaster, not entirely sure what you mean by land based. There’s a lot of really good boats to pick from. Most of them are 60-85 foot long sportfishing boats with tons of bait. They’re sort of floating hotels with every amenity you might want to have when on vacation. Happy to answer any questions you might have about San Diego fishing if you want to message me.

Hi Pacific Bluefin, By "landbase" I meant not party boat live aboard, but we depart daily on a smaller sports-fisher type of boat to look for surface action. I was hoping to try out the "Run & Gun" type of popper casting in a small but faster sports-fish as I am guessing that it would probably provide a higher probability of finding a Bluefin to eat my popper? Are there a good number of "Run & Gun" type of charter in San Diego that you would recommend by any chance? Thanks!