New to Tuna fishing

[turbinedoctor]

I am thinking about doing some tuna fishing this year and was looking at putting together a couple of rods. :head:

What do you guys think about the choice between Offshore Angler captains choice 6/0, Penn Senator special 114H or the Shimano TLD 25. :fight:

I am also thinking about a 30-80 lb rod or a 50-100 lb rod, and 65 # braid with a topshot of 100 yards of 80 # mono.:sand:

Any input is welcome.

[spareparts]

I can't speak for my self, I've never caught a tuna, but the smallest thing you see used around here for tuna a tiagra 30w, or penn int 30w, with most people stepping up to a 50 class. I've seen a tld's bring them in, but they usually 50's. Once apon a time, people used to use 9/0's, but you don't see that too often. I've been told a senators drag won't hold up with a big tuna. As far as line goes, you are starting to see lots of flouro leader, and I mean lots. Some of the big guys are using 50-100 yards of it. I don't see teh use in running that much, but they are the ones winning the big money

[turbinedoctor]

These are some of the reels I am thinking about. As you can see I am staying under the $200 range.




http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_89099_151001003_151000000_151001000_151-1-3

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_58377_151001003_151000000_151001000_151-1-3

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_21821_151001003_151000000_151001000_151-1-3?ordProd=Y&CMID=TOP_selectitems#itemDetail

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_7929_151001003_151000000_151001000_151-1-3

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_17515_151001003_151000000_151001000_151-1-3

[cterrebonne]

tuna fishing and cheap are never in the same sentence.
im not too familiar with either coast for tuna fishing, only in the gulf.
if you want to get some gear as inexpensive as possible go with TLD 25's on some 5'6" tidewaters. 50-130. like you said 65braid with a top shot of mono will be the ticket. also the tuna could care less if you have fluoro carbon or mono, especially if trolling, when chunking its all about the bait behaving in the water like all of them other pieces of chum the tuna arent looking to see if there are strings attatched. right there you talking about 125 or so for the reel and another 70 for the rod. you can always upgrade the rod later on but its hard to find another soild glass blank rod for under 200 even the penn tuna sticks are a graphite glass mix. Another reel choice would be Avet's i have seen those reels at really good prices plus they are american made.

[Airslot]

Turbo,

Give me some more info. Where you fishin...how deep....troll or chunk....anchor or drift?

We've whooped on tuna to 200 on TLD 25's. Sure, 50's are nice, but if you gots one small one out, thats the one getting bit. Penn 114's will work, but I really think I'd rather have the TLD 25's. Also think I'd stick with mono. You can get enough 40# mono on a TLD 25 that line capacity isn't usually a problem unless you chunk from an anchored boat and cant get off the ball quick enough on a BFT over 200. I'm hoping to get back in the game this year. Got rid of all the 50's, but still have enough 30# gear to put out a good spread.

[turbinedoctor]

Thanks guys for the replies and input. I now remember from a while back about Air doing some tuna fishing. How far from here do we need to go and what size fish are we talking about, You mentioned 50 - 200#.

I am leaning towards the TLD 25 or the Ocean Master OML 25. I think the ocean master is made by Shimano because they look the same to me.

As to the rods which do you prefer, Graphite or fibreglass. Is E glass the same as fibre glass?

What kind of rigs do you use?

If you pick your days and have another boat go with you, would you go 30 miles offshore?

I have a million questions????????

[turbinedoctor]

Air I was thinking about a little trolling depending on how far we have to go, Fuel wise, and probably drifting while chuncking.


Did you say you took a 200 # with the TLD, how long did it take and how much drag did you have on it.

[spareparts]

check this site from time to time, there are some good deals on there
http://www.charlestonfishing.com/forum/classViewAds.asp?catID=8

[turbinedoctor]

Thanks Spare, they have some nice stuff now but I am still learning what what it is that I want. I did save the site to favorites.

[Blue_Runner]

Our crew is thinking about going after some y-fins too. We have 6 or 8 TLD 25's between us and my buddy has a couple of 2-speed beastmasters which is just like the TLD 25 but with a big cranking handle, same line cap.

I'm thinking a 50 lber would take a while to crank in! But it sure would be a lot of fun.
:beer:

[cterrebonne]

check out alantani's website on his tld 25 rebuild. once you do that you'll have all the drago you need and then using braid you have all the line cap you need. also to add to your tuna arsenal get a jigging rod with a fin nor 0fs85 and string her up with braid. and then you can cast poppers and jigs.

[turbinedoctor]

Ok, I feel good about the TLD 25, now about the rod. Graphite or fibreglass, and why?

Is one stronger then the other?

I cant afford the best of everything, but I do want the best of what I can afford.

:clap:

[cterrebonne]

Ok, I feel good about the TLD 25, now about the rod. Graphite or fibreglass, and why?

Is one stronger then the other?

I cant afford the best of everything, but I do want the best of what I can afford.

:clap:

glass rods can handle force and pressure from weird points better than graphite. with graphite the rod is designed for the force to be spread all over the rod not just certain sections, so what happens is if you put the rod bending at a weird angle or pull up too high on the rod then snap she goes. where as with glass, they are heavier but are way more durable. get those tidewaters i mentioned and then after one season replace the roller tip ans stripper with aftco's if you want. what is going to work out for you well with those rods is that you are going to use tld's so that means that the frame will break before the reel clamp on the rod. and if you dont like the nylon gimbals then any rod maker can put you on some alumumnum ones for cheap.

I have used tidewaters in the GOM for years and i have caught small fish all the way to big ones and they have never let me down.

[Airslot]

I'm partial to the 30-80# rod for a tld 25. Glass is fine. Matt can set you up with a nice rod for short money. With 30# gear you can get most any fish under 125 ish to the boat in under 40 minutes. Once those Bluefins start to get shoulders, you can be ion for a longer battle, but with a little finesse no more than an hour. This is light tackle fishing as far as tuna go. If you can't break his will in an hour, the odds are in the fishes favor. Fortuneatly you will be fishing in relatively shallow water, less than 200'.

[turbinedoctor]

Thanks for the info guys. If you can think of anything else please post it as I will be checking back here often for a while.

Air: I am planning on a trip to Matt's after I find out what it is that I want. I guess I could pick his brain also, he seems to know a lot and does not try to push one thing over the other, just an honest opinon.

[turbinedoctor]

A couple more question. Since I will be using Braid line should I use rollers or not. I have heard that the braid can get stuck between the roller and the frame, meaning an instant game over.

Then what about wind on leaders, are thay a good idea?
With rollers or not?

How do you attach the leaders, loop to loop, swivels, crimps????

[Airslot]

Just say no....to rollers. Yes braid can and does get stuck between the roller and frame. Rollers are just another point of failure, and not needed for this type fishing. I haven't gotten into windons yet. For chuncking we use 5-8' of flouro for leader. For trolling we use 6-8' of mono, 120# for tuna. We use sampo snaps swivels trolling, and I prefer the small aussie ball bearing swivels on the chunk.

[Blue_Runner]

Battle for 1 hour? Are you kidding me? I'd have a stroke if it lasted over 20 minutes. :sun:

After 15 I'm looking around to see who I can hand the rod off to :beer:

[turbinedoctor]

As of now, I welcome the thought of a one hour battle. I may not think so then but for now, BRING IT ON!!!!

[macojoe]

I was brand new to Tuna last year but I know were they hang out and I have buddys that have all the gear, I am going to put some time into it this fall and see what happens??
But the Sea Ox had its first Tuna pulled on board last fall!

http://wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=10659&highlight=tuna

[Stillrunning]

Remember that tuna's are federally regulated and you need a special lic to catch them. Here is whats needed and a link to how to obtain a lic.

Regulated Atlantic tunas (Atlantic bluefin, yellowfin, skipjack, albacore, and bigeye tunas)


Atlantic HMS Angling Permit (Recreational) Description

All owners/operators of vessels fishing recreationally for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2009 Atlantic HMS permits cost $16.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2009.
https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/PermitList.asp

[turbinedoctor]

you only need a permit if you get caught!!

Knowing my luck I will get caught so I plan on getting the permit.

[Stillrunning]

you only need a permit if you get caught!!

Knowing my luck I will get caught so I plan on getting the permit.

Thats my luck too. Not sure how big the fine would be but my buddy got mixed up one striper season thinking the min was 28" and it was actually 32". They took his fish and gave him a ticket for both fish of $175.00 each. He got lucky and the judge believed his story and only charge him for one fish at $175.00 but that still alot of dough.

[Airslot]

Tuna fines are 5 figures and potentially your boat. You don;t mess around with HMS Permits:bat: :nut:

[macojoe]

Permits here are $28 for rec or commercial so you need to decide what you want, cause they only allow you one or the other.

If you get a commercial and want a smaller one to take home its no deal!! So you really have to decide to sell or keep.

[Steplift 72']

It aint a lever drag, and it aint that pretty, but before I'd stay home I'd use my trusty 4/0, 6/0, and 9/0 Penn's for anything. I think my back would play out before their drag would. The 6/0 I use every trip was bought from JC Penny sporting goods department for $18 in 1974 and it has the original drag plates. That reel has been used on every boat since my 1972 V-20. It has caught more fish than most do in several lifetimes....nothing wrong with those ugly Penn's. Most folks have never seen a Penn 1/0, I brought up a 400+ pound goliath grouper with one.....but don't recommend it. My 2cents is if you can afford a lever drag, go for it, but if not the Penn Senator isn't bad equipment. The only problem I've ever had with a Senator is the side plate screw backing out during a prolonged fight because of flexing while the handle was cranked. I did have a side plate crack because I couldn't stop and tighten the screws. If you're set on a lever drag, try the pawn shops. A buddy bought a full set of them for a few hundred dollars but who know's where they came from.

[Monkey Butler]

Permits here are $28 for rec or commercial so you need to decide what you want, cause they only allow you one or the other.

If you get a commercial and want a smaller one to take home its no deal!! So you really have to decide to sell or keep.


What's with the $28 permit? Doesn't the $16 HMS permit cover you in Mass. waters for recreational?

[macojoe]

Nope:fight:

[Monkey Butler]

Okay, so what else do I need to buy?

[macojoe]

permit, gas, rods and reels.

Commercial permits also have mandtory gear you need to buy also, you need a epirb and a certin one, also if you are fishing in the fall you need survial suits, and monster rods and reels to drag the 500+ pound tuns in, lots of cash before you even get going!

[turbinedoctor]

It aint a lever drag, and it aint that pretty, but before I'd stay home I'd use my trusty 4/0, 6/0, and 9/0 Penn's for anything. I think my back would play out before their drag would. The 6/0 I use every trip was bought from JC Penny sporting goods department for $18 in 1974 and it has the original drag plates. That reel has been used on every boat since my 1972 V-20. It has caught more fish than most do in several lifetimes....nothing wrong with those ugly Penn's. Most folks have never seen a Penn 1/0, I brought up a 400+ pound goliath grouper with one.....but don't recommend it. My 2cents is if you can afford a lever drag, go for it, but if not the Penn Senator isn't bad equipment. The only problem I've ever had with a Senator is the side plate screw backing out during a prolonged fight because of flexing while the handle was cranked. I did have a side plate crack because I couldn't stop and tighten the screws. If you're set on a lever drag, try the pawn shops. A buddy bought a full set of them for a few hundred dollars but who know's where they came from.

Thanks for your two cents worth on the Penn Senators, I have been looking at them too but havent heard experinces like yours.

Do you think the new Penns are as good as the older ones?

[willy]

Penn;s are old school, they work and I have some that are 40 years old and still ticking away. I have never had the opportunity to fish the big reels for giant tuna but would have no concerns with them at all.