Fly Fishing for Bluefin Tuna

Fly fishing for bluefin tuna requires meticulous preparation of substances and deal with, and a deep understanding of bluefin feeding habits because of their extensive number of prey. (Pictured above: Rob Tartaglia hoists a 55-inch bluefin tuna he caught on the fly in July of 2022.)

A 4 a.m. launch out of Buzzards Bay took my father, Rob Tartaglia, via the Cape Cod Canal into Cape Cod Bay, and ultimately to the southern fringe of Stellwagen Financial institution. He deliberate to seek for chicken exercise, colleges of sand eels on the floor, and breaching whales—indicators that the “visitor of honor” would quickly present as much as the social gathering.

A large faculty of birds working near the floor introduced his consideration to a bait ball that was being actively ravaged by a big faculty of tuna. Nevertheless, when he and his boatmate arrived on the mayhem, the feed had subsided. As a substitute of getting again on the engine to seek for extra exercise, he determined to remain put and wait patiently for the tuna to return again for extra, realizing the sand eels had been nonetheless there. Simply minutes later, they started their destruction of the bait ball and a 75-foot solid put him within the zone, the place he used a 10-count to sink his fly beneath the birds. He started lengthy, sluggish strips, inflicting a bluefin to cost and overtake his fly, and the battle was on. After three lengthy runs and a 28-minute battle, my father had landed his largest tuna on the fly.

Later that morning, he texted me a photograph of one in every of his favourite bluefin flies, battered and bloody, and a single phrase: Epic. Whereas he’s had a lot success over time with bluefin tuna on the fly, for a protracted interval, fly-fishing alternatives for bluefin had been nonexistent due to an absence of tuna within the 30- to 55-inch vary, the optimum measurement for a fly rod. It had been greater than 5 years since he had been capable of make a devoted effort to pursue bluefin on the fly.

Till 2022, it had been a number of years since there have been sufficient small bluefin feeding on the floor for fly fishermen to have an opportunity to catch them

In 2007, my dad introduced residence the primary tuna I’d ever seen. When he advised me he’d caught it on a fly rod, I couldn’t consider it. Whereas I really like all types of fishing, I discover fly fishing to be the last word connection between the angler, the surroundings, and the fish; bluefin tuna current the last word problem. They’ll take a look at an angler’s focus, abilities, and stamina whereas exposing any weak spot in tools and preparation—but it’s nonetheless attainable to catch these behemoths on flies.

College bluefin journey in massive teams, usually feeding on the floor round whales and underneath birds, which makes finding them simpler for fly anglers after which casting into feeds. Bluefin have the sharpest imaginative and prescient of any bony fish, making them extremely efficient sight-feeders. My dad mentioned the baitfish that make up a bluefin tuna’s weight loss plan “are very reproducible with fly patterns that match the hatch, an important side given the tuna’s eyesight.”

Rob Tartaglia, the writer’s father, with a soccer bluefin on the fly from 2007.

Chasing bluefin tuna generally is a difficult job, requiring a considerate sport plan and detailed preparation to place the angler in one of the best place for fulfillment. In breaking down his sport plan for tuna on the fly, Dad mentioned, “The pregame is the sport, bait determines habits, and battle the nice battle.”

The Pregame is the Sport

A tuna fly fisherman should put together not solely to hook a bluefin, however hook it with the correct rod, reel, and line; in different phrases “by no means convey a knife to a gunfight.” Due to this fact, earlier than gearing up, the angler should decide what measurement bluefin he’s prone to encounter. There are six size-class classes for bluefin, starting from “small faculty” to “big.” The perfect size-classes to focus on on the fly are the varsity and enormous faculty fish. At 27 to 47 inches, faculty bluefin will be caught with a 12-weight rod paired with a big arbor reel containing a strong drag system and capability to carry 300 to 400 yards of backing. When pursuing massive faculty bluefin of 47 to 59 inches, an angler needs to be armed with a 14- or 15-weight fly rod with an identical massive arbor reel.

To catch his 55-incher in July of 2022, Dad used a 15-weight G. Loomis recognized within the big-game group because the “Beast Grasp,” paired with a Tibor Pacific 13/15 reel. He spooled it with 600 yards of 60-pound Dacron backing and a Rio Leviathan sinking fly line. For a pacesetter, he tied a straight shot of 6-foot, 80-pound fluorocarbon. This setup was designed to use most stress throughout the battle.

In the course of the pregame, it is usually essential to find out if the angler can be harvesting fish or working towards catch and launch. Plan accordingly with an up-to-date Extremely Migratory Species allow, ice, and correct touchdown gear.

Subduing a hooked bluefin tuna requires specifically designed fly rods, like this one right here, with a gimbal to be used with a preventing belt.

Of utmost significance is deciding the place to be throughout that first hour of daylight, the golden hour, when probabilities of connecting with a tuna are larger. Intel from earlier days the place tuna had been feeding will assist sample their location. Nevertheless, if intel is unavailable, use charts with contour strains and depth adjustments to find bait, whales, and birds. My dad favors Stellwagen Financial institution due to the abundance and number of baitfish that appeal to whales, sharks, groundfish, and tuna. The contours and depth adjustments act as a focus for his search patterns. Different concerns which will improve your success embody having buddy boats on the water to share data on feeding patterns and placement. Figuring out the tides can also be necessary, as slack tide normally affords a fantastic likelihood at encountering floor feeds.

Avoiding the “run and gun” crowd is one other piece of recommendation taken from skilled tuna anglers like my father, as it may be tough to get positioned inside vary of feeding fish amongst a fleet of aggressive boats. Fly anglers have to get as near the feeds as attainable for the reason that efficient casting vary with this gear is 50 to 100 ft. Attempt to anticipate the place the following feed could occur and keep communication with the helm with a purpose to strategy a feeding faculty on the proper angle.

Bait Determines Conduct

Within the Northeast, bluefin tuna feed on all kinds of prey together with sand eels, groundfish, herring, halfbeaks, mackerel, squid, and even bluefish. An angler’s capability to efficiently goal tuna on the fly is very depending on the predominant baitfish. Because of the sort of bait, their feeding patterns and talent to be efficiently focused on the fly can fluctuate. When tuna feed on fast-moving baitfish like “halfbeaks” (Atlantic saury), mackerel, or herring, it may be tough to get into fly-casting vary earlier than the fish transfer on. When tuna feed on slower-moving baitfish like bunker, butterfish, and sand eels, they keep put longer, giving a fisherman a greater likelihood to current a fly.

When selecting a fly, attempt to match the colour sample, profile, and measurement to the bait. Bluefin have extraordinarily eager eyesight and should simply go up an providing if it doesn’t fairly “match the hatch.” The hook needs to be tuna-strong and razor-sharp as a result of it might be the weakest hyperlink in all the setup. Dad has just a few fly patterns he depends on, which embody kinky-muddler and mushmouth-style flies tied on 4/0 to six/0 hooks. The 55-inch bluefin he caught fell for a kinky-muddler in inexperienced and white with a purple flash to mimic the big sand eels current that day. This sample is simple to solid and offers loads of motion on sluggish retrieves. I like to recommend discovering a customized fly-tyer who makes a speciality of big-game flies. Kostas Asvestis of K9 Saltwater Flies makes big-game-quality customized flies for all the pieces from billfish to bluefin tuna. Nice regionally tied flies will also be discovered on the Bear’s Den Fly Store in Taunton, Massachusetts.

When selecting a bluefin tuna fly, attempt to match the dimensions, colour, and profile of the bait, and make certain it’s tied on a tuna-grade hook.

When tuna are feeding on fly-friendly bait fish like sand eels and butterfish, persistence is a advantage. It might not be essential to run round on the lookout for an lively feed. Observe the exercise of the birds as a result of they’re an indicator as as to whether tuna beneath are on the point of push bait to the floor. Additionally, scan beneath the floor across the bait. Earlier than hooking his 55-incher, Dad noticed tuna slashing a number of ft beneath the bait ball. The presence of slow-moving bait and lively birds are good indications that tuna are close by and should pop up inside fly-casting vary.

Combat the Good Combat

Bluefin tuna are one of many quickest fish within the sea and their first run can exceed 40 miles per hour. After hooking one, the primary goal is to clear the road cleanly to the fly reel. There isn’t a worse feeling than hooking a tuna and realizing there’s a tangle across the reel seat, or much more horrible, round somebody’s foot. Line administration is a important issue when dealing with these huge fish. Set the drag at an acceptable degree earlier than the battle begins. As soon as the tuna takes its preliminary run, keep away from the temptation to extend the drag. An excessive amount of drag can simply lead to a popped chief. Get pleasure from that lengthy, drag-screaming run and put together for what comes subsequent.

A bluefin battle on the fly consists of two phases: two or three lengthy runs adopted by a deep dive beneath the boat. At this level, it turns into a sport of leverage, willpower, and method. The objective needs to be ending the battle as shortly as attainable. Apply most stress on the fish, envisioning turning its head upward. It will convey it nearer to the floor because it circles beneath. Extra drag will be utilized by palming the reel and even pinching the road with one hand towards the rod. Let the rod do the work, not arms and again. Keep away from high-sticking the rod and preserve the rod angle low, which places extra stress on the fish and optimizes the ability of the butt-end of the rod. Because the battle turns into extra vertical, efficient communication is crucial. Keep vocal with whoever is on the helm as a result of repositioning and adjusting is essential to profitable the battle at this stage of the battle. Remember to preserve the tuna from working underneath the boat and towards the engine. Because the tuna comes nearer to the floor, its circle will grow to be tighter. When it circles on the angler, capitalize and acquire line. When it circles away have the grit not to surrender line. That is the place palming the reel comes into play. A tuna won’t quit the battle and neither can the angler. When the angler sees colour, that is the chance to finish the sport.

Whether or not pursuing these wonderful fish your self, with a buddy, or with among the most skilled constitution captains on the planet, a fly fishing tuna will be the fishing story of a lifetime. Given the abundance and number of completely different size-classes of bluefin tuna encountered in 2022, the prospects are wonderful for an thrilling season pursuing these fish in upcoming seasons.