Fly Fishing

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing-The Basics

By Ken Roberts 26 June, 2023 6 mins read

You should be familiar with the following information before you travel to North Carolina for yellowfin tuna fishing. Here are some tips: Know the season, choose the right boat, and research schooling species. These tips will help you maximize your fishing experience and catch the biggest yellowfin in the world. Once you know all of these basics, you'll be well on your way to catching a monster yellowfin.

Season

There are many seasons for yellowfin tuna fishing. Although recreational anglers catch yellowfin tuna throughout the year, the best time to fish for these aggressive predators is during spring. Yellowfins often catch on topwater plugs (trolled baits), jigs and jigs. During the spring season, yellowfins attack in packs, launching themselves out of the water and chasing bait. These large fish can look similar to 50-pound footballs but the fight is intense and the runs are strong.

The Northeast Corner of Big Rock is where baitfish concentrations are highest, and the strongest currents flow there. During billfish tournaments, the northeast corner is the preferred location for angling for yellowfin. Dillon says that it is better to fish elsewhere during weekdays, as small boats and other vessels can cause problems with fighting and trolling. Fishing in Big Rock is not necessary if you can catch the tuna in a calmer, uncrowded ocean.

In the summertime, Yellowfin tuna can be caught in calmer waters. Yellowfins like 70-to-78 degrees water but are uncomfortable with temperatures in excess of 90. As such, fishing in midsummer is not a good idea. Look for birds that are in large groups and bonitos on the surface to find the best times to catch these fish. These are excellent indicators of where you can find them.

Spring: Yellowfins are abundant in the Gulf Stream near the North Carolina coast in spring. North Carolina yellowfin tuna fishing offers the chance to battle a massive beast. Yellowfins can be brought home with lots of meat, thanks to the generous regulatory allowance. If you are looking for a good yellowfin fishing trip, it's the time to plan your trip now!

Tackle

Yellowfin tuna are highly mobile and can thrive in the deep seas. The yellowfin, unlike other species of tuna that spawn all year, will stay closer to the shore to maintain their preferred temperature range. The younger species will usually swim close to the surface, while the larger, more mature tuna will be deeper into the sea, mixing with other species. Yellowfin tuna are prized table fare, and NC fishing charters focus their efforts on the species.

A large charter boat is the best way to go tuna fishing in North Carolina. There are many fishing seasons, but recreational anglers will catch tuna every winter. Yellowfin tuna is often caught with artificial lures and seawitch rigs. These fish can also be caught using a planer rig. For a more challenging day, try a fishing charter with a larger boat.

Most charter boats use blue/white Ilander skirts, or multi-colored spreader bar. Yellowfin are attracted by pink and other green colors. You can try a black/purple sleeve on cloudy days if time permits. A naked-rigged bait is also an option if you are on a tight budget. It is possible for a tuna to be attracted by an unseen bait and not to a skirt.

You can lure a yellowfin tuna by rigging it using a plastic lure, or a rubber flies. These lures can be used in the right conditions. These lures are much more likely to attract a bite than rigged, natural baits. Make sure you adjust the hook length if you use lures to bait. This will prevent the lure from bouncing off the surface and causing it to become scared.

Schooling species

Yellowfin tunas have many reasons to be called schooling species. First, they often swim in groups of at least two species. Although other types of fish like billfish and sharks are common in these groups, yellowfin is unique because they usually school together. Yellowfin, in addition to schooling together, are known to gather with driftwood, seagrass patches, and dead marine mammals.

Fish from small schools build strong social-geographic bonds that last many generations. These bonds may result from kin recognition systems and general schoolfidelity. The general school fidelity is formed before the larval cohorts are dispersed, thus preserving the majority of the brood-mates. Small yellowfins leaving FADs with skipjack tuna in tandem indicate that species differentiation is not as important as individual size.

Yellowfin tunas of greater size often form schools with dolphins. Some species of yellowfin tuna are larger and live near oil rigs. When they spawn, these tuna form special indentations into the water that make swimming quicker and easier. These fish are extremely common in oceans and they account for the majority of canned fish in the U.S. Yellowfin Tuna are among the most popular fish worldwide.

They are most often found offshore but can occasionally be seen near the shore. They eat baitfish found on islands in the middle of the ocean. Inshore yellowfin tuna may venture to the continental shelf under certain conditions. Researchers conclude that the fish might migrate between open ocean islands in the mid-ocean. As they might associate with drifting things, yellowfin tuna should be observed in their natural habitats.

Boats

Many types of fishing boat are used in North Carolina to fish for yellowfin. Charter fishing boats with large sea hulls are king of the game. To catch these rare fish, boat captains resort to artificial lures and seawitch/ballyhoo rigs. For catching tuna, planer rigs are also a good option. You can catch tuna fresher than canned tuna so if your next fishing expedition involves a boat trip, you should consider a sea-hulled vessel.

Yellowfins are abundant in North Carolina waters. An experienced angler with a Harris sportfisherman 24' can reach them within one hour. Charterboats can safely reach the Gulf Stream, a crucial area to catch tuna. Using a high-speed boat or a smaller craft, do-it-yourself anglers can reach the Gulf Stream on calm summer days and reach the tuna after a few hours of fishing.

Mid-season yellowfin fishing can be very rewarding for offshore fishermen. These tuna can settle into a pattern over several weeks and respond well to repeated chunking. These fish could even be regular visitors to the area where they are gathered on a fishing boat. Offshore fishermen love the challenge of trolling yellowfin for their catch and the excitement of a quick blitz. They love the distinctive fighting style characteristic of yellowfin.

Hatteras Island and the Inlet are two of the most sought-after spots for yellowfin Tuna in North Carolina. Boat captains will troll these waters with topwater and ballyhoo, using baits made from kites as well as topwater plugs. They also jig vertically. These waters attract bigeye tuna only once every 10 years.

Management of yellowfin tuna by the NMFC

The joint management plan of NMFC & IOTC for yellowfin tona in Atlantic Ocean is based in part on the premise of concentrated production in waters off Gulf of Guinea. This tuna nursery is located adjacent to west and central Africa. A large purse-seine-fishery also exists. These purseseine fisheries target small, vulnerable tunas.

The Indian Ocean's yellowfin Tuna stock is severely overfished and the number of catches continues to rise. Scientists predict that the fishery could be insolvent within five years. A number of prominent food retailers are calling for urgent action to safeguard the Indian Ocean's yellowfin fishing fleets. South Africa, Kenya and Maldives have created a new interim plan to manage the population.

Since 1989 when the United Nations Environmental Program, (UNEP), identified DGN as an important bycatch of marine mammals, the DGN fishing industry has been under close inspection. The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, (PSMF), now uses an observer program to monitor the fishing industry. The data collected from the observer program and other sources, including commercial fishing companies and local government, is entered into the Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PSMFC), administered by the U.S. government. It is distributed to both the member agencies and private individuals.

Monitoring the yellowfin tuna population can be done using both internal and satellite tags. LDWF and the NMFC used satellite tags in order to monitor the Gulf of Mexico's yellowfin tuna populations. Satellite tags on the other hand have been used for monitoring the life cycle of tuna. Despite the rise in satellite tags, some have been kept in fish for longer periods of time.

FAQ

Is it safe?

Always ask your seller where you bought your fish. It's safe to eat if the fish doesn't have an expiration date. But if the fish looks old or smells bad, then you shouldn't eat it.

What kind of fishing licence do I need?

If you plan to fish in state waters (i.e., lakes, rivers, and bays), you must purchase a fishing license. The state laws require that anglers obtain a valid fishing licence before they can fish. If you plan to fish in federal waters (i.e., oceans, Great Lakes, etc. A fishing license is not required. However, you will need to check with the authorities before you take any fish home.

To fish, you will need a Bobber

Yes. A bobber is used to keep the bait from getting away when fishing. The bobber is made up of the float as well as the line. To cast a lure, attach the hook to one end of the line. Then, pull the rod out and release the line. The lure could sink to the bottom if you don't have a bobber. This makes it harder for fish to take the bait.

Which rod should you choose?

The best rod for fly fishing is made from graphite fiberglass composite. This material is strong, lightweight, and has excellent casting properties. You must practice using a graphite rod to learn how to cast better.

Statistics

It is estimated there are at least 2 million people who go fishing in California each year. (californiayachtsales.com)
About 40 percent of all fish are freshwater species. (takemefishing.org)
To substantiate this theory, Knight attempted a systematic inquiry by considering the timing of 200 'record' catches, more than 90 percent were made during a new moon (when no moon is visible). (myfwc.com)
You likely have a fish hooked if the bobber moves erratically for over 5 seconds. (tailoredtackle.com)