capt dave azar tuna fishing article

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Tuna Fishing with Light Tackle
"Inshore Tuna Surprise"
by
Capt. Dave Azar

There is nothing like getting a surprise on your birthday. Each year, for the past three, school bluefin and skipjack tuna have shown up in near shore waters on or around my birthday in early August. For the small boat angler there are few thrills more exciting than chasing these highly prized pelagics within sight of land, sometimes as close as the surf zone. This fishery happens for only a week or two, and requires a lot of time and effort but the payoff is worth it, like they say; “good things come in small packages”.

I first learned about this run on August 8, 2004, when a friend phoned to tell me about it. He had gone out to find the big bluefish he was catching the day before, but instead found 10 to 20 pound bluefin and skipjack tuna jumping out of the water in the same area. He and his companion managed to hook several fish, and landed a few. He called to see if I wanted to go the next morning, it happened to be my birthday. It was a Monday, but I postponed work and met him at the marina before sunrise. Sure enough we found the skipjack, but no bluefin, just outside the surf zone. We landed several on fly rods before heading to work. There were a few more days of action with the skipjack and the bluefin, which stayed within ten to fifteen miles of the beach. The next year they showed on August 7^th. This time I found both species busting bait while fishing for bluefish around the Ambrose Tower. I had some inexperienced casters with me and despite chasing them for several hours we failed to hook up. This is run and gun fishing of the highest order and requires quick, long and accurate casts. The next day I went back by myself and as soon as I put a lure in front of the fish I hooked up. I managed two bluefin to 20 pounds and four skipjack all on light to medium spinning tackle. Several other small boaters I know also got in on this action for several more days before it ended. In 2006 I eagerly awaited their return and persistently scouted the same areas where they had been spotted in ’04 and ’05 from early August. This area was basically a triangle formed by BA buoy (40 20.95N 73 47.75W), Ambrose Light Tower (40 27.00N 73 48.00W) to the NB buoy (40.26.50N 73.38.80W). But many days the fish were found north of this area, closer to the beaches of Rockaway and Long Beach, New York. On August 18^th I spotted some tuna free jumping just east of the BA buoy. They didn’t materialize again, but were spotted and caught the next day in the same area, and continued to show for the next week.

The heart of this fishery has been the influx of warm, clean, blue-water that we have been experiencing the past few years. In addition to the tunas, this has also led to the catching of a variety of species that normally inhabit southern waters like mahi-mahi, trigger fish and cow-nosed rays. While structures like those mentioned above as well as various mid range lumps and ridges, like the Klondike Bank, and the Barnegat Ridge are good places to seek these highly migratory species, it pays to keep a lookout for busting fish anywhere blue-water is found. On August 22, 2006, as I was running out toward the Ambrose Tower, I intercepted several schools of skipjack tuna only 3 miles from the beach. They were churning the bait so hard the water looked like it was boiling. I chased them for several hours and managed to hook five on the fly.

There are several ways to find these tuna. The telltale sign is fish arcing out of the water. But schools of fish will crash bait with a characteristic percolating pattern. It’s very different from say a bluefish blitz where it is possible to make out individual fish. The tunas stay packed tightly together and drive the bait to the surface in a very rapid frenzy making the water boil. Other times only individual fish can be seen dimpling the surface leaving a subtle boil, giving away the presence of the school underneath. Of course there will be some birds working, but this does not seem to be the rule. A very interesting way to find these fish is to listen for them. If they have been sighted, or are believed to be in an area, it may be possible to hear the characteristic chomping sound they make from miles away. The trick is to motor slowly in the direction of the noise until they are sighted. A good pair of binoculars is a necessity.

When the school has been located they should be approached stealthily. Casts must be quick and accurate, and should be made from as far away as possible to minimize spooking. If the fish suddenly disappear a cast into the area where they were sighted will often produce. This may require anticipating where they are heading. It is important to try to observe which way they are moving in order to stay ahead of them.

While other lures, like ½ oz. white bucktails, diamond jigs, even poppers, may work, the “Deadly Dick” lure seems to be the day in-day out producer. The size can be chosen based on how far it is necessary to cast. In other words if the fish can be approached closely a lighter lure can be used. If they are very spooky it may be necessary to stay 100 yards away and then a heavier jig is needed to reach them. I have caught most of my fish on 1 oz. to 2 oz. models. For fly fishing it must be possible to approach to within 100 feet. The best approach, under all circumstances, is to carefully observe wind, current and fish movement and then shut down away from the fish and wait until they run toward the boat or the boat drifts toward the fish. It may be possible to run up very close to breaking fish and get off a very quick cast before they sound. To accomplish this the angler must be a very proficient fly caster and must be standing in the bow at the ready, just like when sight fishing the flats.

Medium spinning gear matched to high quality 15 to 20 pound braided line is adequate to handle most of these fish which average about 15 pounds. It may be possible to encounter bluefin in the 40 pound class and then tackle matched for 25 or 30 pound might be more suitable. Rods should be six and a half to seven and a half feet long and have stiff butt sections. Reels should be high quality and hold 250 to 300 yards of line and have extremely smooth drags. Lures should be tied on directly without any terminal tackle and to use fluorocarbon leaders as these fish have keen eyesight. For fly fishing 10 to 12 weight rods will allow quick casting and have the backbone to subdue these fast running, hard fighting fish. A clear intermediate line, with a fluorocarbon leader tapered to 12 to 15 pound test is best. Again fly reels should have over 250 yards of backing and strong drags. For both spinning and fly drags should be set at thirty percent of breaking strength. Flies can be tied on size 2 to 1/0 hooks to match the prevalent bait. Like false albacore most flies are small, say in the 1 to 3 inch range, but poppers and larger flies will work under the appropriate conditions. Unlike false albacore, it is not always necessary to strip the fly as fast as possible. A moderate continuous retrieve or even a slow, halting retrieve may work better.

In order to fish for these highly migratory species one must obtain a permit from NOAA, whether you wish to keep them or not. The simple application process can be done online at www.hmspermits.gov and the permit is only $28, a small price to pay for the privilege of catching one of these prizes. Bluefin are especially tasty, while skipjack are a little less so. If either species is to be kept it is important to bleed them immediately and keep them on ice.

This fishery offers only a small window of opportunity, but catching just one of these noble fish on light tackle is a gift any small boat angler will cherish for a long time.

Atlantic HMS Angling Permit (Recreational) Description
All owners/operators of vessels fishing recreationally for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2007 Atlantic HMS permits cost $28.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008.