Swim baits are kick ass after hooking up on the troll rods,what we have learned is let the crackers/newby's reel in the troll rods while the people in the know get out the swim bait rods and start casting.Next thing ya know all the rods are loaded up,if they didn't load on the troll/slide.The swim baits that we use are called "Fish Trap" and 95% of the time we use the "Albi Special" which is black & purple.We put these on a 1-1.5 oz lead head.The key is to glue the swim bait to the lead head a few day's before heading out then it will last a little longer before it's torn up and need to switch to a new one.Like said above they like to hit it on the drop there fore the bail is in free spool,then slam it and set.Fun stuff.We mix it up with trolling/swim baitin and live baiting also.If it wasn't for winter metal and summer tuna I'd be lost,fishin for salmon in the ocean just hasn't been the same after getting into the tuna gig the last 3 years.Parker I owe ya a trip of some sort and it needs to be redeemed soon,your on the list I just won't tell ya what number you are.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I'd agree with the fishtraps being first rate.

Deploy as the boat is slowing down, hooked up on the troll clones on handlines. They get hamered on the slide.

Early in the season pink/white works well. They will eat anything... squid or baitfish.


Funny, I hooked my first TUNA fishing salmon gear. Thought I had hooked a monster king. It turned out to be a peanut... Wow! What a fight for a fish that size.

WOW Parker u guys had a great day! I went in late Aug and the boat only got 40 or so Aug 26th this year on the GOLDRUSH again. Can't really go with anyone else(wouldn't want to anyway) as my cousin owns and operates it. Hope we hit it right this year!!

+1

Never leave home with out a swimbait, I have actually seen a few times when they out fished live bait when the fish really get finicky at the end of the year, and Tunabites are the bomb!!!PEACE

One more tidbit...

A trick, especially late season, for trolling small swimbaits (4" on 3/4 or 1 oz heads) is to run a 5' leader from the swimbait to a standard beadchain trolling sinker of 2-4oz. (taking it a little further) Masking tape the beadchains, and hit the lead with a coat of silver/chrome rustoleum, and wha-la, you just doubled the attraction factor of your spread.

I sure wish the water would warm up...

Got a call from Randy over at Vision. Apparently someone here alerted him that I was asking about tuna and why I had not mentioned the Vision stuff.

I completely forgot that the majority of Visions market comes from the East Coast and other fisheries instead of our little salmon/steelhead stuff over here.

Randy is gonna send me a whole bunch of swim bait stuff that Vision makes that apparently is just murder on the tuna. Can't wait to try the stuff out.



Thanks to whomever gave a shout out to Randy. I would have never remembered that in a million years, as I always forget that *most* of the US doesn't fish for salmon and steelhead.

Randy's swimbaits are very, very nice!

Fish on...

Todd

Mmmmmm tuna...

Twitch comes through with some expert tech tips, those spinnows have been absolutely essential down in panama for loading the boat with bonita for billfish bait....SZ and Tuna Tommy have led me down the path to ruination here...all this tuna talk along with summer kicking into high gear is making us all a bit twitchy.

You're right behind me on "the list" parker......right behind.


.....has been

"Tuna's" kinda like Crack.Try it once,get off. and you'll be back for more.I think I'll go through my tuna tackle this weekend down in monte between quad rides and rum-n-coke's.Just cause I can.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Living the High Life, SZ! The High Life!

I can see those tuna boiling in my dreams.....you are right, it is definitely an addiction. I too will be looking for crew on the right days, hopefully not like Stams ride.

Steve

it was a great day to be on the water....

here's "the spread"...yes, we are 40 miles out, yes, we are trolling in this mess.



They were there though....


I want my Mommy!!!!



I feel like Parker re-posting....but.....these are classics.

Not possible.

Hey, wanna see a photo of.....

Steve, consider any open seats on your boat officially "ho'd" by me

Fish on...

Todd

Better bring your earplugs Steve.

I think you may be in the same spot on that "list" as Parker....

But, credit given where credit is due.....that IS one hell of an approach.

The only "list" I'm currently on now is the DO NOT CALL list.

Has been. Never was. Never will be.

So whattya gotta do to be a tuna HO? I wanna be one...

Bring lots of gas money, and don't be a puker.

Fish on...

Todd