fishing gear

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing -- The Basics

By Trey Gordon 26 July, 2023 6 mins read

A few things are necessary before you go fishing for yellowfin tuna in North Carolina. These are some tips to help you choose the right boat and know the season. These tips will allow you to maximize your fishing experience, catch the largest yellowfin anywhere in the world, and make it a great time. This knowledge will make it easy to catch a huge yellowfin.

Season

There are many seasons for yellowfin tuna fishing. Yellowfin tuna can be caught by recreational anglers throughout the year. However, they are most active in spring. Yellowfins are typically caught on trolled baits, topwater plugs, jigs and kite baits. Yellowfins are known to attack in groups, jumping out of the water to chase bait during spring season. 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 hosts the largest concentrations and strongest currents. The northeast corner is the best place to fish for yellowfin during billfish tournaments. However, Dillon recommends fishing elsewhere during the week, when the crowds of small boats can interfere with trolling and fighting. Fishing in Big Rock is not necessary if you can catch the tuna in a calmer, uncrowded ocean.

Yellowfin Tuna can be caught in calmer seas during the summer. Yellowfins will only tolerate 70-78 degrees of water. However, they won't be comfortable with temperatures exceeding 90°F. It is best to fish in the middle of summer. To find the best time to catch these fish, look for birds in clusters and bonitos crashing the surface. Good indicators of where they are located are bonitos or glass minnows.

Spring: Yellowfins thrive in the Gulf Stream, just off the coast North Carolina. Fishing for yellowfin tuna in North Carolina is a great way to enjoy the thrill of fighting a large animal. Yellowfins have a large amount of meat that can be taken home due to the generous regulatory allowance. Plan your yellowfin fishing vacation now!

Take a look at these tips

Yellowfin tunas are highly migratory and live in deep waters of ocean. Yellowfin tuna will spawn closer to shore than other species of tuna, in order to keep their preferred temperature range. Younger tuna swim near the surface. However, larger species will go deeper into the ocean to mix with other species. Yellowfin tuna is prized as table food, so NC fishing charters concentrate their efforts on this species.

North Carolina is best for tuna fishing from a large boat charter. While the fishing season can vary greatly, recreational anglers still catch tuna throughout winter. Yellowfin tuna often catch on artificial lures as well as ballyhoo/seawitch fishing rigs. You can also catch these fish with a planerrig. A fishing charter with a bigger boat is a better option for a challenging day.

Blue/white Ilander skirts and multi-colored spreader bars are common on charter boats. However, yellowfin are attracted to pink and green colors. A black/purple dress is good for overcast days if you have the patience. You could also try a naked-rigged bait if your budget is tight. Tunas may prefer an unseen bait to avoid eating a skirt.

Try rigging a rubber fly or plastic lure to entice yellowfin tuna. These lures can be used in the right conditions. These lures are more effective at attracting a bite that rigged natural baits. Adjust the hook length when you are rigging your lures as bait to make sure it doesn't bounce off the water and become spooked.

Schooling species

Yellowfin tunas have many reasons to be called schooling species. They usually swim in groups that include 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. Apart from schooling, yellowfin have been known to congregate together with driftwood, seagrass patches and even dead marine mammals.

Fish from small schools form strong social and geographic bonds that endure for many years. These bonds may be the result of kin recognition mechanisms and general school fidelity. It is important to remember that general school fidelity can develop before the larval populations disperse. This preserves the most brood-mates. The presence of small yellowfin releasing FADs together with skipjack tuna indicates that species differentiation can be overridden by individual size.

Larger species of yellowfin tuna often form schools with dolphins. Sometimes, larger ones will school close to oil rigs. When they are spawning, these tuna fold their fins into special indentations in the water to make swimming easier and faster. These creatures are very common in the ocean, and their commercial catch accounts for a majority of the canned fish in the U.S. Yellowfin tuna are also among the highest-selling fish in the world.

They are most often found offshore but can occasionally be seen near the shore. They eat baitfish from mid-ocean islands. Under certain conditions, inshore yellowfin tuna might venture to the continental shelf. The researchers conclude that these fish may migrate between mid-ocean islands and the open ocean. Therefore, it is vital to observe yellowfin Tuna in their natural habitats as they may associate drifting items with them.

Boats

There are many fishing boats available for yellowfin tuna fishing in North Carolina's offshore waters. Charter fishing boats with large sea hulls are king of the game. Boat captains use artificial lures and ballyhoo/seawitch rigs to catch these prized fish. The planer rig is also useful for catching tuna. You catch more tuna than you can cook so if you're looking to fish from a boat with a sea hull, you might consider a yacht.

Yellowfins are abundant in North Carolina waters. An experienced angler with a Harris sportfisherman 24' can reach them within one hour. Charterboats also have the range to safely access the Gulf Stream, a critical area for catching tuna. Do-it yourself anglers can reach Gulf Stream on calm summer day using a fast boat or a smaller vessel and catch tuna after a few hours.

For offshore fishing enthusiasts, mid-season yellowfin can be especially rewarding. These tuna can settle into a pattern over several weeks and respond well to repeated chunking. These fish might become regular visitors on fishing boats to the congregated area. Offshore fishing enthusiasts enjoy the challenge of trolling for yellowfin and the thrill of an early blitz. They also love the distinctive fighting style of yellowfin.

Hatteras Island is home to the largest concentration of yellowfin tuna. Inlet is also a popular area. These areas are best for boat captains who will use ballyhoo or topwater plugs to troll and dangle lures from kites. These waters attract bigeye tuna only once every 10 years.

Management of yellowfin Tuna by 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 purse-seine tuna fisheries target small fish that have been lured by fish-attracting device.

The Indian Ocean's yellowfin Tuna stock is severely overfished and the number of catches continues to rise. Scientists warn that the fishery could collapse within five years. Prominent food retailers have called on the government to take immediate action to save yellowfin fisheries of the Indian Ocean. South Africa, Kenya, Maldives, and the EU have all proposed a new interim management strategy to help the population recover.

Since 1989, the United Nations Environmental Program has closely monitored DGN's fishery. In that year, it was identified as a bycatch for marine mammals. To monitor the fishing industry, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission has established an observer programme. The U.S. government manages the Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PSMFC) which includes data from the observer program as well as other sources such local governments and commercial fishing companies. It is given to the member agencies, as well to private individuals.

One way to monitor the population is to use satellite tags and internal tags. LDWF as well as the NMFC have used the satellite tags to monitor the Gulf of Mexico population of yellowfins tuna. Satellite tags were used to monitor the tuna's life cycles. Despite the recent increase in satellite tags, some of these tags have been retained in fish for more than three years.

FAQ

How far away should I stand while fishing?

You are more likely to catch fish the further you stand from shore. However, this also increases the chances of getting wet.

Which is the best time of year to fish?

Fishing is best done in the early morning or late evening. These times are ideal for fish to be feeding and moving about.

What is the best bait for freshwater fishing?

Live shrimp are the best bait to use for freshwater fishing. Shrimp are inexpensive, easy to catch, and taste great!

How often should I replace my lures?

It is important to change lures every couple of days. When left out in direct sunlight for too long, lures tend to lose their effectiveness.

How far should I go?

Cast your line as deep as possible. Make sure your arm is straight while casting a long line.

What time does it take you to catch a salmon?

It all depends on the fish size and the skill of the fisherman. Landing a fish can take anywhere from one to an hour. The greater your chance of landing a big fish, the longer you wait.

How long does it take for a fisherman to be an expert?

Expert fishermanship takes practice over many years. Learn new techniques, improve your skills and become a more skilled fisherman.

Statistics

For most freshwater species you are most likely to target when first starting out, a reel size of 20 to 30 should be more than enough! (strikeandcatch.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)
It is estimated there are at least 2 million people who go fishing in California each year. (californiayachtsales.com)