Targetting Tuna!

[TomBettle]

http://www.boat-fishing-monthly.co.uk/chan...10&cate=__10987

 

It's all hype designed to sell tackle, mags and boat trips.

 

Funny how a Keyhaven skipper claims that Tuna were seen off the IOW, not trying to pull crowds off Weymouth boats then?

 

PJ

Tuna have been taken in nets of Keyhaven and likewise in Portland Harbour, but these are very small fish. Probably either young Albacore or small Skipjack.

These are by no means unheard of and a few are caught right along the coast accidentally by commercials every year. They definitely aren't targetted as Albacore has very little commercial value.

 

There have always been unusual or should I say unexpected species of fish all around our coastline.

Don't be fooled into thinking Bluefin are a tropical fish or even an accidental visitor.

They have turned up all around our little set of islands on a relatively regular basis.

Jersey to the highlands to the western approaches, up the Atlantic coast of Ireland and through to the North Sea and way beyond into the Baltic and even arctic waters.

They are not in large numbers and don't make their presence well known, but they have always been there. Always there, but only in real numbers when the quantity of food allows and when the commercials have laid off them and allowed them to recover from near extinction.

 

I have a number of friends who are far less gobby than me that regularly target (regularly catch is not the right words) various species of Tuna and even some species of Billfish that are known to occasionally visit what could be considered "our" waters.

 

Tunas

Albacore, Bluefin, potentially Big eye,

Sharks

Thresher, Mako, Greenland

Billfish

White Marlin

Slimmest chance of a Blue Marlin

Broadbill

 

All the above are theasbly targetted from boats running out of British, Irish and Scottish ports.

 

Big game fishing takes many hours of hard slog, but sometimes the impossible does happen.

[great white]

My two penneth

 

 

Good luck to anyone who hooks one, if your luck is in it may be on suitable tackle to land it.

I expect that it would be an Accidental catch rather than targetted.

Maybe a livebait fished on tope tackle.

 

 

I once had a full day on a game boat in the Indian Ocean, lovely boat, lovely weather but boreing fishing.

Basically just sat around while the crew tried to get a hook up.

The usual is often described as hours of boredom followed by short periods of excitement.

 

Not my cup of tea really

 

Charlie

 

 

[Paul J]

I agree about trolling being boring, but if you can get them feeding on the surface and are lucky enough to experience a feeding blitz then thats something completley different

 

PJ

[TomBettle]

I agree about trolling being boring, but if you can get them feeding on the surface and are lucky enough to experience a feeding blitz then thats something completley different

 

PJ

I have to say, I completely agree.

Trolling is potentially a very dull and very expensive form of angling, but when you know the fish are there waiting to he caught the anticipation can be electric. Some species, Tuna for example are typically caught trolling, but essentially are big Mackerel and will take a bait in the same way as they will... once feeding fish can be found you can chuck plugs at them, jig for them, livebait for them, chunk for them, kite fish... all of these are very active and in the main visual. This is truly exciting fishing and turns our usual day on the wrecks on its head.