| Bluefin tuna are one of the greatest challenges to | | | | carefullly, preferably using the Jinkai crimping tool |
| anglers off the coast of New England, and | | | | listed on this page.They also use these crimps to |
| Massachusetts continues to be a center of | | | | attach a small wind on swivel. This way, the |
| activity for giant bluefin tuna.Most tuna are caught | | | | leader can be wound all the way on the spool, |
| chunking or trolling. I will describe the techniques | | | | protecting the flurocarbon during storage, ensuring |
| used by top crews to catch these giants.Chunking | | | | clean decks, and allowing the angler to reel the |
| for Bluefin involves archoring on a good fishing | | | | fish as close as needed to harpoon it.All crews |
| spot known to hold bluefin. Once anchored, top | | | | attach the sinkers and ballons using rubber bands. |
| crews deploy chunks, stick baits and live baits | | | | Sinker weight is selcted based on the spped of |
| suspended on ballons at different depths. Most | | | | the current and the desired depth that you are |
| captains have their crew position the baits where | | | | trying to fish.Most crews that troll bluefin fish |
| at the depth they mark tuna fish on their fish | | | | spreader bars from their outriggers at about 3-4 |
| finder.Many top captains use Gamahastu Live Bait | | | | knots. Most crews fish three to four spreader |
| hooks. In determining the hook size, it is important | | | | bars, two from the outriggers and one or two |
| to match the hook to the size bait that you are | | | | flat lines. Outriggers are rigged with roller trollers |
| using. You shouldn't use a hook that is too large, | | | | so that the line can be reeled through the clip to |
| because it will detract from the presentation of | | | | tease the fish into striking again if he misses the |
| the bait.All top crews use fluorocaron leader. | | | | first time. The clip is set tight so that the |
| Leader varies from 150-lb to 220lb, with many | | | | outrigger sets the hook on the fish.Fisherman use |
| crews fishing light gear (150-180) to get bites | | | | different spreader bar sizes and colors in their |
| when they are hard to come by. Most crews | | | | trolling spread based on experience and conditions. |
| start off with a long leader (say 15 feet), so they | | | | Snap swivels are used so that rigs can be |
| can cut back and recimpt the hook on if their | | | | swapped out easily. Thimbles and heavy chafe |
| leader gets nicked up by dogfish or other | | | | gear protect the mono where it connects to the |
| pests.Many crews using light fluorocarbon also use | | | | hook and swivel. Most crews use the Mustad or |
| H crimps instead of G crimps for their 150 or 180 | | | | VMC southern tuna hook style on their trolling rigs. |
| fluoro. The lower profile H crimp must be done | | | | |