fishing gear

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing-The Basics

By Bill Rollins 17/11/2022 6 mins read

These are some things to remember before you go yellowfin-tuna fishing on the North Carolina coast. Here are some tips: Know the season, choose the right boat, and research schooling species. These tips will help you maximize your fishing experience and catch the biggest yellowfin in the world. Once you are familiar with these basics, you will be well on your path to catching a big yellowfin.

Season

The season for yellowfin-tuna fishing in North Caroline can be very variable. The best time to catch these aggressive predators is spring, even though recreational anglers can catch them throughout the year. Yellowfins often catch on topwater plugs (trolled baits), jigs and jigs. Yellowfins tend to attack in large packs during the spring season. Although these fish look like 50-pound footballs in size, they are fiercely competitive and can run strong.

The Northeast Corner of Big Rock has the highest concentrations of baitfish and the strongest currents. The northeast corner, which is home to yellowfin, is the most popular location during billfish tournaments. Dillon however recommends fishing somewhere else during the week. The crowds of small boats can disrupt trolling and fighting. If you are able to catch the tuna in calmer waters, fishing in Big Rock is unnecessary.

Yellowfin tuna may be caught in calmer waters in the summer. Yellowfins prefer 70-to-78 degrees of water, but they are not comfortable with temperatures that reach the upper 90s. Therefore, it is best not to fish in midsummer. If you want to catch these fish at their best, look for birds in groups and bonitos breaking the surface. You can find them by looking for bonitos and glassminnows.

Spring: Yellowfins in the Gulf Stream off North Carolina's coast are abundant in spring. Yellowfin tuna fishing in North Carolina offers an opportunity for the fisherman to experience the thrill of battling a huge beast. Yellowfins are allowed to bring home a lot of meat due to their 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. While other tuna species spawn year round, the yellowfin will run closer to shore in order 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 is prized as table food, so NC fishing charters concentrate their efforts on this species.

A large charter boat is the best way to go tuna fishing in North Carolina. The fishing season varies greatly, but recreational anglers catch tuna throughout the winter. Yellowfin tuna are commonly caught with artificial lures or ballyhoo/seawitch-rigs. A planer rig can also be effective for catching these fish. A fishing charter with more boats is an option for those looking for a more difficult day.

Charter boats usually use blue/white Ilander skirts or multi-colored spreader bars. Yellowfin however are attracted pink and green colors. On overcast days, a black/purple skirt is a good choice if you have the time. You could also try a naked-rigged bait if your budget is tight. A tuna may be attracted to an unseen bait, and will avoid skirts altogether.

Try rigging a rubber fly or plastic lure to entice yellowfin tuna. These lures work well when the conditions are right. These lures are much more likely to attract a bite than rigged, natural baits. You should adjust the hook length before you bait your lures. This will ensure that it doesn’t bounce off of the water and get scared.

Schooling species

Yellowfin tunas are often called schooling fish for a variety of reasons. They swim in groups of at most 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 develop strong social and geographic bonds that last many years. These bonds can be explained by kin recognition mechanisms or general school loyalty. General school fidelity develops before the larval cohorts disperse, thereby preserving most of the brood-mates. Small yellowfin leave FADs in harmony with skipjack tom tuna, indicating that individual size is more important than species differentiation.

Many schools are formed by larger species of yellowfin toma with dolphins. Larger ones sometimes school 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 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.

These species live mostly offshore, but may occasionally be found near shore. They eat baitfish on mid-ocean island islands. Under certain conditions, an inshore yellowfin may move to the continental plate. 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 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. To catch these fish, boat captains use artificial lures as well as ballyhoo/seawitch-rigs. The planer rig is also useful for catching tuna. You can catch tuna fresher than canned tuna so if your next fishing expedition involves a boat trip, you should consider a sea-hulled vessel.

The yellowfin are abundant in North Carolina waters. Experienced anglers can reach them in less than an hour with a Harris 24-foot sportfisherman. Charterboats can safely reach the Gulf Stream, a crucial area to catch 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 can settle into a pattern over several weeks and respond well to repeated chunking. These fish may even become regular visitors to the congregated area on a fishing boat. Offshore anglers love the challenge of trolling to yellowfin and the thrills of an early blitz. They also enjoy the unique fighting style that yellowfin offers.

The most popular locations for yellowfin tuna in North Carolina are in Hatteras Island, and the inlet is also a prime area for these species. These areas are ideal for boat captains to troll using topwater and ballyhoo plugs and dangle baits from their kites. These waters attract bigeye tuna only once every 10 years.

Management of yellowfin Tuna by NMFC

The joint management plans of NMFC and IOTC on yellowfin tuna in Atlantic Ocean are based upon the assumption that the species is primarily produced in waters off the Gulf of Guinea. It is also near west-central Africa's tuna nursery. These purse-seine fisheries are designed to target small tunas with fish-attracting devices.

The Indian Ocean's yellowfin Tuna stock is severely overfished and the number of catches continues to rise. Scientists are warning that the fishery may collapse within five to ten years. Many prominent food retailers have called for urgent action to protect the Indian Ocean's yellowfin fisheries. A new interim management plan has been proposed by the EU, Maldives, Kenya, and South Africa, in a bid to restore the population.

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. 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 shared with the member agencies and individuals.

The NMFC uses both satellite tags as well as internal tags to track the yellowfin population. LDWF and the NMFC used satellite tags in order to monitor the Gulf of Mexico's yellowfin tuna populations. Satellite tags have been used to track the life cycles of the tuna, however. Despite recent increases in satellite tags, some tags were retained in fish for longer than three years.

FAQ

How deep can I cast my line of sight?

Cast your line as deep as possible. When casting a line, keep your arm straight so that the line doesn't twist.

Do I need special licenses to fish?

If you are planning to take fish out-of-state or across county lines, then no. Many states allow anglers to fish without any type of license. Find out the requirements by contacting your local Fish & Wildlife authority.

How do I bait my hooks

Your hooks will be baited by attaching a piece if meat to its end. You can then tie the meat around one eye of your hook.

What is the best season to fish?

Early morning or late afternoon is the best time to fish. These are the best times to fish because the fish are moving and eating.

Is it safe to consume fish caught by others?

No matter where your fish is purchased, make sure you ask the seller whether they have an expiration date. It's safe to eat if the fish doesn't have an expiration date. You shouldn't eat fish that smells or looks old.

Statistics

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)
You likely have a fish hooked if the bobber moves erratically for over 5 seconds. (tailoredtackle.com)
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)