When the reports first come that the Yellow-Fin Tuna have moved in behind the shrimp boats, run don’t walk to
Shrimp boat Tuna feed in a pecking order and swim in like size schools. I never leave fish to look for fish, what I’m saying is if you find the right boat with the JUMBOZ then you are set I’ve never caught a popcorn size Yellow behind a shrimp boat.
So, how do you do this, how do you find these magic boats with fish holding ability. OK, let’s start with season, reason and then how to, shall we?
1st season: If you read the blog you will see I spoke about fall fishing and the signs of migrating tuna just about 1 month ago. Fall is a time for Game Fish to fatten up for the winter. Shorter days and cooler water temperature spur the Yellow Fin into feeding mode.
2nd reason: Shrimp boats offer easy meals and tons of food. By-Catch is discarded and HUGE Yellow Fin Tuna along with Black Fin, Bonito’s and of course Sharks lurk in the prop wash waiting for this easy meal. Also, for some reason the larger shrimp boats move offshore in pursuit of their catch. I don’t know anything about shrimping and I have no idea why these boats move offshore in the Fall, I have no idea why they are not out in this area all year, what I do know for certain is they are not in this area but once they move into this deeper water here come the TUNA.
3rd How to: I’m going to be very specific, this is the behind the scenes, “Only known information by the Charter Captains”. Are you familiar with
Look for the boats in the 200ft. range of water depths you can concentrate in areas of blue or blue green water color. Once you spot a boat on the horizon continue to the boat and get you a bucket of chum ready. We use Porgies, Bonitos and any other chum we can get off the cleaning table. Cut this up into bite size pieces and pull right up behind the shrimper. Tip: put about ¼ of a 5 gallon bucket full and throw this into the prop wash of the shrimper, you should see bonitos and possibly some black fin show up, this is a good sign and the beginning of the food chain, once they are there chum harder and faster working the fish into a frenzy, don’t stop or you will loose them back to the shrimper and there you will be floating by yourself…. Let’s assume the black fin are there, increase the size of your chunks, earlier I told you to cut them small OK now throw larger bait and start catching some black fin, keep this going and keep a look out for the HUGE Yellows.
Let’s talk about tackle for these fish. I like to use NOTHING less than a 50 Wide Shimano on a 50-80 Melton Tuna stick spooled with 130lb Hollow Core Jerry Brown and top shotted with 80lb Momoi and finally finished off with 100lb YoZuri HD Flourocarbon tied to a Mustad Demon of 9/0 or larger hook. I know that sounds technical and I mentioned some brand names. (Hello Sponsor?) DO NOT TAKE Shitty equipment or faulty knots into this situation. Don’t cut corners on tackle and don’t use old line or drags that have not been checked. If you are reading this and my other posts don’t waste your time and go half cocked, you WILL be disappointed.
Last week I caught a 193lber check out the photo posted with this blog.
Good luck, Great fishing and Tight lines.
Captain Mike Gray
