Trolling is how a lot of tuna days start, and the tackle is straightforward but has to be stout: conventional outfits with the capacity and drag to handle a bluefin or yellowfin that crashes the spread, matched to quality bars and baits.
The outfits
Conventional trolling rods in a class matched to your target, from lighter setups for school bluefin and yellowfin up to heavier gear for bigger fish. A roller tip (or full roller guides) helps on the heavier outfits. Sturdy blanks with plenty of lifting power are the rule.
The reels
Lever-drag conventional reels in the 30 to 50 class with high line capacity and strong, smooth drags. Dependable Daiwa conventional reels stand up to the load and the long hours. Match the reel and line class to the fishery and keep the drags serviced.
Line, leader and the spread
Heavy mono or braid to the class, with heavy fluorocarbon or mono leaders to the baits. The business end is the spread: spreader bars, daisy chains, rigged ballyhoo and skirted lures, staggered short and long across the wake.
Tip Keep the spread balanced and tangle-free, and set your drags before the day starts. When a fish crashes the spread you want to clear the other lines fast and fight cleanly, that only works if the pattern and the drags are dialed in ahead of time.
Related
Once trolling finds the fish, be ready to switch to jigging or popping gear to work the school you located.