what is the proper trolling speed for tune?
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Trolling speed
Everyboat raises fish at different speed, speed range from 6-8 knots, with 7-7 1/2 the most common speed, try different speeds, the lures that you are dragging also work better at certain speeds depends where placed in the spread.
Good Luck out there.
Everyboat raises fish at different speed, speed range from 6-8 knots, with 7-7 1/2 the most common speed, try different speeds, the lures that you are dragging also work better at certain speeds depends where placed in the spread.
Good Luck out there.
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AJ,
IMHO it has less to do with speed than the RPMs. On my boat I troll at 1,000 RPMS, no matter what speed that produces. Its usually 7 to 7.5 knots but will vary depending on wave and wind direction. That's the RPMs that we have consistantly caught fish at. Experiment with your boat and I'll wager that you'll evenually find an engine speed that works for you.
IMHO it has less to do with speed than the RPMs. On my boat I troll at 1,000 RPMS, no matter what speed that produces. Its usually 7 to 7.5 knots but will vary depending on wave and wind direction. That's the RPMs that we have consistantly caught fish at. Experiment with your boat and I'll wager that you'll evenually find an engine speed that works for you.
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AJ, I pretty much agree with all the above, would just like to point a couple of things out. At the end of the day it does boil down to speed, but the way you measure it is through RPM's. There is little room for fluctation there. Different lures have different actions but most of the popular ones seem to work well in the 7-8 knot range. Keeping within reason, I don't think you could go too fast, as Tunas are capable of great bursts of speed, but, you could go too slow resulting in poor lure action that may not be very inviting for a fish to strike.
Good luck,
MakoMatt
Good luck,
MakoMatt
Fast
I've seen some articles that indicate it is sometimes good to go fast. This works best when you can spot fish and they are not biting. Getting the lures in front of them and racing away brings them out of there lull and into the predator mode.
Have fun
I've seen some articles that indicate it is sometimes good to go fast. This works best when you can spot fish and they are not biting. Getting the lures in front of them and racing away brings them out of there lull and into the predator mode.
Have fun
Strategies for trolling speeds
As posted prior, the average is 7-8 knots. As posted by Mako Matt, it also depends on how each lure works in the existing sea conditions...You need them to work right. Big Marlin lures need faster speeds, while swimming split bill ballyhoos need much slower speeds.
But here is a rule of thumb that a professional taught me a while ago. Most tuna actually like it slow. Even a green machine on a bird presents it'self nicely at 5 knots in most sea conditions. Giants love swimming baits at 3.0 - 4.0 knots, and they can swim much faster than their smaller cousins.
I beleive you'll hook more fish trolling a slower speeds BUT, when you need to cover a lot of water to find the fish, fast speeds will do best at that job...Once you are convinced you're in an area where there is fish, I suggest you slow down to 5 - 7 knots. Not only will it keep you in the area for a longer time, but as I said, I think the fish like it better...That's provided that your lures are working well...Green machines, small clones, ballyhoos ( either skirted, naked, or split bill ), hard body deep diving swimming plugs and most spreader bars are all good at slower speeds.
I actually troll at 8-9 knots, depending upon the water conditions, until I find them. Then I slow down to 5 - 6 knots when I'm convinced I'm in the glory hole.................Howie
As posted prior, the average is 7-8 knots. As posted by Mako Matt, it also depends on how each lure works in the existing sea conditions...You need them to work right. Big Marlin lures need faster speeds, while swimming split bill ballyhoos need much slower speeds.
But here is a rule of thumb that a professional taught me a while ago. Most tuna actually like it slow. Even a green machine on a bird presents it'self nicely at 5 knots in most sea conditions. Giants love swimming baits at 3.0 - 4.0 knots, and they can swim much faster than their smaller cousins.
I beleive you'll hook more fish trolling a slower speeds BUT, when you need to cover a lot of water to find the fish, fast speeds will do best at that job...Once you are convinced you're in an area where there is fish, I suggest you slow down to 5 - 7 knots. Not only will it keep you in the area for a longer time, but as I said, I think the fish like it better...That's provided that your lures are working well...Green machines, small clones, ballyhoos ( either skirted, naked, or split bill ), hard body deep diving swimming plugs and most spreader bars are all good at slower speeds.
I actually troll at 8-9 knots, depending upon the water conditions, until I find them. Then I slow down to 5 - 6 knots when I'm convinced I'm in the glory hole.................Howie
AJ,
one thing to try if you're going to the canyon--2 weeks ago I was there and we were making about 18 knots--we then flatlined some bullet heads at that speed and picked up a 70# wahoo..I figure that you will definately not catch anything without lines in the water so try anything!!good luck I'll be out there also on "another toy"
one thing to try if you're going to the canyon--2 weeks ago I was there and we were making about 18 knots--we then flatlined some bullet heads at that speed and picked up a 70# wahoo..I figure that you will definately not catch anything without lines in the water so try anything!!good luck I'll be out there also on "another toy"
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