Hi!! You,ve probably seen me post a few messages re: tubin and yakin.....however this time I am goin longfin tuna searching in September on a charter and I,m pumped. I will be going out of San Diego on a charter for 3 days. If any of you folks can give me some tips it would be greatly appreciated....line size etc........Thanks in advance...Jeff

Wait until you hook your first albacore! You will be hooked like me. I fish up here in the Santa Cruz area, so the tacktics may be a little different. For trolling I like to use 40# Big Game line. This is a bit lighter than most people but it works great. Remember to keep your drag fairely loose and your clicker on when trolling. After a trolling hook up have a lighter pole redy to drop on the slide. For this set up I like 25# clear line. I have had good luck dropping a 2oz lead head with a 4" channel island chovie Fish Trap. Last year my hot trolling lure was a purple and black 6" Tuna Clone. My best fish ever was a 60# albacore I caught in '98 on a brushtailed zuker. Good luck
Jeff

Keep in mind, a lot of the party boats won't let you troll with anything less than 60#. Basically, you need a varitey of rods from 20 to 60#. 20, 25, 30, 40 and 60 would be perfect.
-Brian

Brian ,,Thanks for the info...by the way this is a limted load...charter only 18 fishermen...Jeff

That's cool. You could probably get away with using lighter line than normal with the fewer guys onboard. Where you'd use 30, fish 20. More fun, and less people to get pissed off at you.
-Brian

Don't forget the 15#. You probably won't need it, but if the fish are picky it'll make a huge difference. Consider that the YFT fishing around Orange County this year was 15# max, 12# was the usual.

When you are fishing make sure to pay attention to what's happening on deck. Fishing on the drift can be total chaos w/ everyone helping each other. If everyone thinks only about themselves, it's hell. Learn the shuffle, and learn to "keep in touch" w/ your bait.

Bring florocarbon leader for at least 30# and below. It's expensive, but well worth it. If it doesn't cost $8 for 13 yards, be very wary. The real stuff is that expensive, the floro coated monos aren't worth the $8 for 300 yards.

Know how to tune up your reels, and make sure they are in the best possible condition. Bring along the tools for the job, and the check and oil it all every night.

My optimal list of set ups for this trip would be:
1 15# bait rig
2 20# bait
1 25# for rubber or Ziggy Jig on the slide
2 30# bait
1 40# bait/ yo yo
1 60#
The doubles are not necessary, but when you break off or catch one it is much better to just grab a new one. This is very handy when the bite is short lived, I learned this one the hard way.

That's my $2,
Amish Ed

Amish,,,,Your info is awesome...I know you used to be a deck hand!! So your info is greatly appreciated!! I will post when I get back.You guys can be sure of that. I know its a long way off in September..but I want to be in control ...BY THE WAY....last year this boat came back with the chartermaster I know personally with over 200lbs of tuna...and he gave away some....My next problem is what do I do with the meat!!!!This is a very big trip not only for me but for my son who graduates with honors from his high school...take care..Jeff

You might want to consider getting yourself one of those vaccuum sealers, you know the ones that suck all the air out of the bag and package the food inside the bag? There's one on the info-mercials called the Foodsaver or something like that, I hear a lot of guys using it for their tuna. So, you can vaccuum seal the fish, or you can also get a canner, or have it canned. Another option is to smoke it. You can get it smoked at a lot of the landings in SD I believe, or you can buy yourself a smoker for pretty cheap.
-Brian

All of Brians suggestions are good. You can also have a BBQ w/ all your friends, and if you really have a lot, send them home w/ some too.

Will you be doing some shorter trips during summer? The practice couldn't hurt. heh heh heh

Amish Ed

>All of Brians suggestions are good.
>You can also have a
>BBQ w/ all your friends,
>and if you really have
>a lot, send them home
>w/ some too.
>
>Will you be doing some shorter
>trips during summer? The practice
>couldn't hurt. heh heh heh
>
>
>Amish Ed


Amish dude;; My short trips are done near shore..like offshore near Malibu....in my kayak...its cheap...and always productive tho usually not huge!!tight lines.....Jeff