Trolling For Blackfin Tuna: Southeast and Mid Atlantic

 Capt. Ross Gallagher

Throughout the Southeast, the most abundant tuna is the blackfin. Attaining a maximum size of around 40lbs, they are considerably smaller than the larger bluefin and yellowfin tuna. What they sometimes lack in size, they make up in numbers and availability and when eaten fresh, make a great addition to the dinner table.

Over the past few years we’ve had some of our pro-staff captains share their favorite “secret” technique for targeting blackfin: “The light tackle drop back.”

 

Not only does this technique utilize fun to use light tackle gear, it offers a deadly solution to finicky black fin “that just won’t eat anything.”

 

Lure Selection:

Small offerings with minimal rigging is the name of the game. The two most popular baits for the Light Tackle Drop Back:

 7” Original: Of the two options, the 7inch Original has a shorter wider profile. This size perfectly replicates sardines, mullet, or many of the smaller forage that black fin are fond of.

9” Skinny: This bait doesn’t really replicate anything, but all we know is that it’s deadly. It’s probably equally popular as the 7” Original and is most popular in black.

Rigging Selection:

 5/0 Weighted Swim bait Hook: This hook will help the bait track properly and minimizing spinning. The weighted nose will also stabilize the front half of the bait, allow for maximum quiver of the tail. Be sure to tie direct using a loop knot.

Colors:

Black seems to be the best selling color for black fin tuna, but bone, amber and bubble gum are equally as effective.

  • When in doubt: Start with black.
  • Green and Cloudy Water: My two favorite colors in cloudy water are bubble gum and black. Bubble gum shows up because its bright and black shows up due to the contrast.
  • Very clear Water: Bone and amber. Use a long flouro leader or yo zuri hybrid and you will always be a winner.
  • Rough conditions: If you are fishing very rough conditions, stick with bright colors such as chartreuse and bubble gum.

Outfit:

Captain Ross’ Outfit:

  • 7’6” Heavy Fast Action Spinning Rod
  • 6000 sized spinning reel: With the potential for fish in the 30lb+ class, I like to have the added line capacity for a long initial run while on the troll.
  • 30lb Mono or 40lb braided line
  • 8’ Section of 40lb Flourocarbon leader.

Approach:

Begin by starting your troll over high profile structures such as a shipwreck or underwater hump in at least 90′ of water. When approaching the structure, slow down to around 3.5 knots and begin feathering out the bait, in this case the Hogy 7inch Original or 9inch Skinny rigged on a 5/0 Weighted Swim Bait Hook.

You’ll want to look at your wake, and have the bait swimming behind the second or third wake. Each boat has a different wake, so use your best judgment on where seems to swim most naturally.

 

While locating fish, be sure to cover some ground and study their patterns. If fish are scattered, trolling is hands down the most effective technique.

When I am searching for tuna activity, my first reaction is to look up! Scanning the horizon for signs of bird activity on or near the surface. Follow these signs, as they help narrow down a big ocean into practical fishing areas saves time and increases productivity.

If you are not scanning the skies and horizon, your eyes should be on the fish finder.  When I begin marking puffs of bait or tuna arcs, I will save a waypoint over that area. Often these fish will be relating above structure or a temperature break. Having several waypoints can help mark a track that increases the effectiveness of the troll.

 

Trolling Techniques:

Sweepin’ Troll:

Continue trolling over the structure, but begin actively sweeping the rod while keeping the rod tip parallel to the water. This sweeping motion creates a fleeting baitfish presentation. If you’ve had a strike and the fish missed, open the bail and let out 10’ – 15’ of slack, then quickly close the bail. This quick directional and speed change of the bait is often what triggers the bite. For the best hook up ratio, when you have a strike, retrieve the slack and use a low sweeping hook to drive the hook home.

 

Flat line Clip:

If you’re trolling with “hands off” anglers, keep in mind you can Set it and forget it with soft baits.  You don’t technically need the flat line clip, but it is handy to keep a lower angle of line. If you troll off your rod tip, you will need more line out to achieve the desired trolling depth. If you don’t have flat line clips, you can use a rubber band to connect your line to the reel.

Fish Holding Deep? Have the anglers grab each rod and back the throttles into neutral. The weighted swim bait hook will actually begin to nose dive towards the bottoms, mimicking a wounded bait fish. Let the bait sink for 30 – 40 seconds then begin a rapid jigging retrieve towards the surface. Sometimes that is all it takes to trigger a tuna blitz.