[Iliveoutside]

Hello, making final preps for my first PB tuna trip with Frances Fleet. I have been researching the boards for what to bring. I can't seem to find a concensus on what is the optimum leader length and how to rig for PB tuna. I want to make up some rigs ahead of time. I am having some done by a friend with crimps and offshore loops, but would also like to tie some, as I have read that crimps may not be good. So what is the best length for a leader, and how should it be rigged? I plan to use Gami circles which I have in sizes 5/0 to 9/0 and spro 150# heavy swivels. I have floro in 40, 60, 80 and 100lb. Thanks guys.

 

[DandJfish]

PB Tuna Rigs

I usually use 8'- 10' of leader material (fluro). I make up a few leaders in various lb tests, ranging from 60 to 100. For hooks i like to start off with either 5/0 or 6/0 gammis (HD). I use a stronger swivel, i like the spro 330 myself. I am not a fan of circles, and prefer (HD) Gammis. Don't forget the rubberbands and or Barrel sinkers in various weights. Hope this helps.

 

[TonyTuna]

I pre tie all my leaders mono and fluro in 7' lengths.I use Owner and Matzuo ringed hooks 4/0 - 7/0. 200# and 330# Spro swivels.

 

[660588]

Over Prepare

The best advice i can give you is to be prepared for anything and everything that can arise, Have leaders made up in a variety of weights and sizes that way you can easily adapt to the fish and the bight. There is nothing worse than tying a rig while everyone else around you is catching fish.
Also take TonyTuna's advice, spend the extra few bucks for the highest quality leader material, hooks, and swivels. You are already spending hundreds on the trip, dont risk losing a fish to save a few bucks at the tackle shop.

 

[jtzannes]

I'm not going to knock pre-tying, there's certainly nothing wrong with being prepared, but I have a question for all the people who pre tie all their rigs: how do you know which one to use? And when you want to change things us do you go get a new rig and repackage the old one?

Since you're asking about basics you might find this helpful. I'm no expert but it doesn't take an expert to rig for tuna, it's really not very complicated at all (but I still see people messing it up all the time).

The goal is to present your bait in the best way you can. For me that starts with my sinker choice - depending on how the lines are going, how deep I want to fish, where on the boat I'm fishing and where the chum is going I experiment with wieght until I'm happy with the way my line is sitting. I'm happy with the way my line is sitting when 1) it isn't tangling/crossing with anyone, 2) it isn't touching the hull/going under the boat and 3) I feel I'm able to reasonably guage my depth and have an idea of where my bait is sitting in relation to the boat.

Next on the list of priorities is hook and leader selection. My go-to rig is a 5/0 gami on a 7'-8' 100# mono leader tied to a spro 230# swivle. I adjust my hook size to my bait (smaller for small squid, a tiny chunk, small sardine, etc I might use a 3/0 - for a huge nasty demon squid or a 12" mahi I might bump it up to an 8/0).

As for the leader, I use 100# mono until something really makes me change my mind like the water is super still/clear/no current/lots of moonlight, people using lite leaders are getting lots of runoffs but I'm not getting any. When it comes to length I use 7'-8' unless there's a big swell or the boat is rocking a lot or there's a screaming current - then I like to lengthen it out a little to 9-10' and very rarely a little longer.

Really that's just about it. Being able to control where my bait is and knowing it's sitting naturally in the water is what I aim for. I don't think tuna are very leader shy most of the time, but I do think they shy away from a bait that is dangling, swinging, floating or twisting in an unatural way. Get the presentation right and most of the time you're OK.

 

[638475]

One tip I offer is go buy a bag of balloons, they help with getting a set bait away from the boat so your offering is in the right water column as the chunks. Lets say your 30 pulls deep (figure 60 feet. as it's normally 2 ft from reel to the first guide)you should tie on a balloon and let out line in 30 ft increments, depending on the current......The formula that has worked the best over the years is an 8oz sinker 30 pulls down x 30 pulls out. This procedure works at any spot on the boat. For leaders, I like 10 feet of leader and will go as short as 7 if I need to clip some....a 230Lb swivel is the defacto swivel no matter what size hook, what lb leader material.

This post edited by walkingontime 07:42 AM 09/05/2008

 

[TonyTuna]

I have all my pre-tied leaders coiled in separate 3" x 4" plastic bags.No more than (2)per bag.The hook size,poundage of the leader and whether its' mono or fluoro is written on the out side of the bags.If I change leaders it is put back into the bag it came from.

PS.Black Sharpie magic marker writes on the bags just fine.

 

[Iliveoutside]

Very helpful info so far guys. I am wondering about further clarification on swivels. I chose the Spro "Heavy Swivel" in 150# because it is so small it can be wound through the guides if needed (like if using a long leader), although I am not sure if this is a useful feature for PB fishing. Do you really need something with test strength greater than 150#, since my main line strength is 100#, and leader strength may be as low as 60#? My main concern with the spro heavy swivel is that due to its small size, it might cause the line to break over its edge due to the tight turn under heavy strain.

 

[TonyTuna]

I only use the Spro barrel swivels or the ball bearing swivels.I don't care for their heavy swivels the shape makes not tying (for me)hard to accomplish.Because they are small for their ratings,I use the 200# & the 330#,for that extra protection in case Mr.Big comes a callin.

 

[jtzannes]

same for me - I use the 230# size because it's easier for me to tie knots that way, especially with my heavy leaders.

 

[Iliveoutside]

Yes, these heavy swivels are tiny. My concern with them is knot strength as well as the fact that there apears to be a "corner" inside the eye from the machining process. I am concerned that this could cause the line to break at much lower than rated pressure. I am going to return these and get the regular spros that you guys are using.

The only real advantage they have is that they can be wound trough the guides which is an advantage on a small boat with a long leader, but I don't see why you would need to wind the swivel through guides with an 8' leader on a PB.

 

[fluketamer]

pre tying rigs and what to use

shimanos new worm bags are perfect for tuna rigs or any long leader rig.

its 10 bags for $6. the bags have reinforced eyes and are much stronger ply than any sandwich bags. 2 rigs max per bag

ive never had to go to 100 lb floro (even with 200+ lb tuna) so i stopped bothering with it. i bring 40, 50, 60, 80,

8 to 10 ft leader seaguar

spro power swivels (240 and 330) are perfect because there small, strong, smooth, and cheap.

and 6/0 and 8/0 hd gami tuna hooks. they dont make 8/0 anymore
i bought a lot from bps when they were dumping them for the newer hd circle. the live bait hd tuna hook is not really a circle its a short shank j - hook like the live bait hooks they use in florida but bigger. the shank is so short that the eye is almost in line with the point acting like a circle more often then not. the tuna sets himself.

i like eggs much better than banks because they put less drag in the water.

my main line is 80 ande or bekley

6/0 penn sen is fine but 2 speed penn graphite or international or shimano 2 speed is easier

its extremely important to have at least a dozen pretied rigs for that special time when the hudson bite explodes and its lock and load.

as far as what to use, you want the heaviest strongest connection you cant get away with when you have a fish on so start with 80, floro

work it hard. changing depths, baits, etc before scaling down to 60 lb test because when you do get the fish on youd rather have 80lb between you asnd him than 60, 50, 40 etc.
palomar nots have a smaller profile to break strength compared to clinch when tied PROPERLY.

palomar is one of the easiest knots to tie wrong

too truly be prepped you need a chunk set up, jig set up, big spin for dolphin and small spin for bait rod.

the best for 4 rods is the milk crate/pvc carrier . search for it here its great for the pb tuna fishing.

c u out there!

 

[fluketamer]

240 or 330 spro better than 150 spro

the bigger spros are better because you can get away with them./

the 150 has a lower breaking range than the 240 or 330 so why not use the bigger swivels if you can.

what if you get a huge sword on he could potentially snap a 150 swivel but i dont know.

 

[fluketamer]

edp's milk crate mine looks exactly the same but i was too lazy to take a pic.

 

[DandJfish]

Hey Guy's

Check out the Viking report, looks like Steve has found some fish

Looking foward to hitting them on our 3 day trip on the 19th. As other people hav already stated bigger (stronger) is better when PB Tuna is concerned. Never know when an eyeball will come along.

 

[Jigalow]

Iliveoutside wrote:
Very helpful info so far guys. I am wondering about further clarification on swivels. I chose the Spro "Heavy Swivel" in 150# because it is so small it can be wound through the guides if needed (like if using a long leader), although I am not sure if this is a useful feature for PB fishing. Do you really need something with test strength greater than 150#, since my main line strength is 100#, and leader strength may be as low as 60#? My main concern with the spro heavy swivel is that due to its small size, it might cause the line to break over its edge due to the tight turn under heavy strain.

Be very careful with those SPRO "Heavy Swivels" The ends are not round, in fact they have a sharp edge on the inside which will cut and weaken the line if you try to tie it on with a knot. If you insist on using them you must crimp your swivel to the leader AND to your main line, not a good option for a PB tuna trip.

I suggest you go back and buy the SPRO "Power Swivel" in the 230 - 370# range, I've been using 370# and they're plenty small. They won't go through your guides but that isn't necessary, plus metal through your guides will eventually cause damage and loose you fish. If you want to increase the distance between the hook and the sinker attach a bank sinker with a rubber band to your main line as far up from the swivel as you want. Then if you get a fish to the boat just break off the sinker and reel the swivel to the rod tip.

Without getting into a long discussion I suggest you return the circles and buy some of the Gamakatsu HD live bait tuna hooks, 6/0 seems to be the best overall size but buy a variety from 5/0 - 7/0 depending on the size of the bait. Maybe even a few smaller ones in case you run into some mini squid or bait like lancet fish.

 

[Iliveoutside]

It doesn't look like the Gami HD hooks are made larger than 6/0. Is that big enough? I bought HD circle hooks up to 9/0. How about the Mustad® 10827BLN? These are available up to 11/0. Also, what is the problem with the circle hooks? I know this isn't catch and release, but they do seem to make hook setting simpler in other fishing applications, although, I have never used them for Tuna.

 

[Jigalow]

Bass Pro's got em

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...1_47495_151005003_151000000_151005000_151-5-3

Not sure why the link feature isn't working, just cut and paste this to your browser...

This post edited by Jigalow 07:03 PM 09/05/2008