There are days when tuna are all around the boat, marking on the sounder, maybe even swirling, and they will not touch a jig, a popper or the troll. That is when live bait earns its reputation. A frisky, naturally swimming baitfish drifted back to those fish is often the one thing they cannot refuse, and it accounts for some of the biggest bluefin caught inshore.
The setup
The classic approach is to anchor or drift over marked fish and set a slick, a steady stream of chum and cut bait that draws and holds tuna near the boat, then drift live baits back into it at staggered distances and depths. Popular live baits here include mackerel, whiting, herring and small bluefish, whatever the tuna are actually eating.
How to fish it
- Keep bait lively. A healthy, struggling bait swimming naturally is the whole point, hook it so it swims well and replace it when it tires.
- Drift baits into the slick at different depths, and let a fish take and turn before you come tight.
- Use circle hooks. They hook fish in the corner of the jaw, which is better for the fish and required practice for release; do not swing to set, just come tight and let the hook find its corner.
- Be ready. When a bluefin eats a live bait, it goes, so have drags set and the crew ready to clear lines and fight the fish.
Tip A good slick is half the battle. Keep the chum steady and consistent, an intermittent slick lets fish drift away, while a steady stream pulls them up-current right to your baits.
Gear
Live-bait tuna work uses stout conventional stand-up outfits with high capacity and strong, smooth drags, matched with a strong leader and appropriately sized circle hooks. Dependable Daiwa reels with the drag to turn a big fish are the tool for the job.