fishing tackle

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing – The Basics

By Bill Rollins 25 April, 2023 6 mins read

There are a few things you need to know before you set out on your trip to North Carolina's coast for yellowfin fishing. Here are some tips. Know your season, pick the right boat, research the schooling species, and make sure you know what the weather is like. These tips will allow you to maximize your fishing experience, catch the largest yellowfin anywhere in the world, and make it a great time. Once you know all of these basics, you'll be well on your way to catching a monster yellowfin.

Season

The season for yellowfin Tuna Fishing in North Caroline is variable. Yellowfin tuna can be caught by recreational anglers throughout the year. However, they are most active in spring. Yellowfins are usually caught on topwater plugs, jigs, and trolled lures. Yellowfins tend to attack in large packs during the spring season. While these large fish have the appearance of 50-pound footballs, the fight is fierce and the runs are headstrong.

The Northeast Corner of Big Rock has the highest concentrations of baitfish and the strongest currents. During billfish tournaments, the northeast corner is the preferred location for angling for yellowfin. Dillon suggests fishing elsewhere during the week because the fighting and trolling can be impeded by the small boats. If the ocean is calmer and less crowded, it's not necessary to fish at Big Rock.

Yellowfin tuna can also be caught in calmer waters during the summer. Although Yellowfins are comfortable in 70- to 78 degree water, they do not like temperatures above 90 degrees. Therefore, it is best not to fish in midsummer. For the best chance of catching these fish, look out for bonitos crashing on the surface and birds in groups. Good indicators of where they are located are bonitos or glass minnows.

Spring: In spring, yellowfins are plentiful in the Gulf Stream off the coast of North Carolina. North Carolina yellowfin tuna fishing offers the chance to battle a massive beast. Yellowfins come home with plenty of meat thanks to a 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 thrives in deep water and are highly migratory. Although other tuna species can spawn year-round, yellowfin tuna prefers to stay close to shore to maintain their preferred temperature range. While smaller tuna species tend to swim closer to the surface than larger ones, the older ones will often move deeper into ocean and mix 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. 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. These fish can also be caught using a planer rig. You can also try a fishing charter using a larger boat for a more challenging day.

Most charter boats use blue/white Ilander skirts, or multi-colored spreader bar. However, yellowfin are attracted to pink and green colors. A black/purple dress is good for overcast days if you have the patience. If you don't have the budget to spend on bait, you might consider a naked rigged one. A tuna may be attracted to an unseen bait, and will avoid skirts altogether.

You can lure a yellowfin tuna by rigging it using a plastic lure, or a rubber flies. These lures work well when the conditions are right. These lures have a higher chance of attracting a bite compared to rigged natural fish baits. To ensure that your lures don't bounce around in the water, adjust the hook length.

Schooling species

Yellowfin tunas have many reasons to be called schooling species. They are often found swimming in groups of at minimum two species. Other types of fish, such as sharks and billfish, are often in these groups, but yellowfin are unique in that they typically school together. In addition to schooling, yellowfin are also known to congregate with driftwood, patches of seagrass, and even dead marine mammals.

Fish from small schools develop strong social and geographic bonds that last many years. These bonds may be the result of kin recognition mechanisms and general school fidelity. General school fidelity develops before the larval cohorts disperse, thereby preserving most of the brood-mates. Observations of small yellowfin leaving FADs in sync with skipjack tuna indicate that individual size overrides species differentiation.

Many schools are formed by larger species of yellowfin toma with dolphins. Some species of yellowfin tuna are larger and live near 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 common in seawater and are responsible for the majority U.S. canned fish. Yellowfin tuna ranks among the top-selling fish around the globe.

These species live mostly offshore, but may occasionally be found near shore. They feed on baitfish in mid-ocean islands. Under certain conditions, inshore yellowfin tuna might venture to the continental shelf. 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

There are many different types of fishing boats used for yellowfin tuna in the offshore waters of North Carolina. Charter fishing boats with large sea-hulls are the best. Boat captains use artificial lures and ballyhoo/seawitch rigs to catch these prized fish. You can also catch tuna using planer rigs. A sea-hulled yacht is a great choice for your next fishing trip.

Yellowfins are plentiful in North Carolina waters, and experienced anglers with a 24-foot Harris sportfisherman can reach them within an hour. Charterboats have the ability to reach the Gulf Stream, which is a crucial area for catching tuna. Anglers who are comfortable fishing alone can reach the Gulf Stream in calm summer days using a speed boat or a smaller craft.

Offshore fishing enthusiasts will find the mid-season yellowfin to be particularly rewarding. These tuna will respond to repeated chunking and can settle into a particular pattern over several weeks. These fish might even become regular guests to the area of congregated fish on a fishing vessel. Offshore anglers love the challenge of trolling to yellowfin and the thrills of an early blitz. They also love the distinctive fighting style of yellowfin.

Hatteras Island in North Carolina is the best place to find yellowfins tuna. Also, the inlet area is a good spot. Boat captains will troll with ballyhoo and topwater plugs, dangle baits from kites, and jig vertically in these areas. These waters only attract bigeye tuna once in ten years.

Management of yellowfin tuna by the NMFC

The joint management plan of NMFC and IOTC for yellowfin tuna in Atlantic Ocean is based on the assumption that the species' production is concentrated in the Gulf of Guinea, a region adjacent to west-central Africa where a large purseseine fishery can be found. These purse-seine tuna fisheries target small fish that have been lured by fish-attracting device.

The Indian Ocean's yellowfin fish stock is overfished. However, catches are increasing. Scientists warn that the fishery could collapse 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 and the EU proposed a revised interim management plan in an attempt to restore the population.

Since 1989, when the United Nations Environmental Program identified DGN as a source of marine mammals bycatch, the DGN fishery was under constant scrutiny. In order to monitor the fishing sector, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is using an observer program. Data from the observer programme and other sources (including commercial fishing companies and local governments) are entered into the Pacific Fisheries Information Network, which is administered by the U.S. government. It is sent to member agencies as well as to private individuals.

The NMFC uses both satellite tags as well as internal tags to track the yellowfin population. LDWF as well as the NMFC have used the satellite tags to monitor the Gulf of Mexico population of yellowfins tuna. Satellite tags on the other hand have been used for monitoring the life cycle of tuna. Despite the recent increase in satellite tags, some of these tags have been retained in fish for more than three years.

FAQ

Can I fish during daylight?

Fishing is allowed at all times of the day. Only times that fishing is banned are when you can fish.

What amount of money can I spend on fishing equipment?

You don’t have to spend much on fishing gear. There are many low-cost options. A cheap hook, line, and reel could be your best option. You can also invest in quality rods and reel sets.

Where can I buy my fishing supplies?

All of these items are available in most sporting goods stores. You can also shop online if you need something in particular. There are many websites that sell everything, including rods and reels as well as tackle boxes and lures.

Where is the best place for fishing?

You can fish near rivers, lakes, streams and other freshwater bodies. These areas are rich in fish food.

How much are basic fishing tools?

Basic fishing equipment starts at $100-$200, including rod/reel and bait combos, as well as tackle boxes and bait. If you want to go out on a bigger boat, then you'll need to spend between $500-$1000 dollars.

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)
Coarse fishing is 100% catch and release these days. (linesonthewater.anglingtrust.net)
It is estimated there are at least 2 million people who go fishing in California each year. (californiayachtsales.com)
Orvis, Simms, and Fishpond have been making some of the best packs and vests for a long time, and it seems like 90% of the anglers around the area use these brands. (troutandsteelhead.net)