Bluefin tuna is one of the largest and fastest fish in the world. The torpedo shape and streamlined body allow it to develop good speed.
Coloration - metallic blue on top and shimmery silver underneath are good camouflage. Huge sizes (up to 2 meters in length and 250 kg of weight) are the result of an insatiable appetite and a varied diet of this fish.
Unfortunately, the delicious meat of the bluefin tuna has resulted in overfishing and the population has declined to critical levels. Bluefin tuna are warm-blooded (a rare trait among fish). This quality allows him to feel good both in the cold waters of Newfoundland and Spain, and in the tropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea, where he goes to spawn every year.
Bluefin tuna feeds on smaller fish, as well as crustaceans, squid and eels. Does not disdain sometimes zooplankton and even algae. The largest tuna was caught in Scotland and weighed 670 kilograms. Bluefin tuna has been eaten by humans for centuries. However, in the 1970s, the demand and prices for the meat of this fish increased throughout the world and its uncontrolled catch began. As a result, the stocks of this fish have decreased significantly, and the population is on the verge of extinction.
Demand for tuna in the US and EU countries continues to fall, despite the fact that in 2012 the demand for non-canned fish in the US was even higher than before. In Japan, consumption of raw tuna has continued to fall in recent years, according to government reports.
Offer and prices
Purse-seed tuna catches in the western and central Pacific continued to increase during October 2012. The result was an increase in the supply of raw fish and a decrease in prices. The price for skipjack tuna in November decreased to 2.05 thousand US dollars per ton under the terms of CFR delivery (including the cost of freight) in the port of Bangkok.
Continuing October's trends, catches in the tropical East Pacific showed a positive trend compared to previous years, allowing for a continuous supply of raw fish to Ecuador's canneries. At the same time, the cost of skipper tuna in Ecuador when sold from a ship remained unchanged at $2.4 thousand per ton.
In the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean, fishing proved unsuccessful after a good start in early October. Initial positive results helped push prices for skipjack tuna to €1.76k/t and yellowfin tuna to €2.45k/t when loaded onto a customer ship (FOB) in Seychelles port.
Purse fishing in the Atlantic Ocean showed an increase, which resulted in a decrease in prices for skipjack tuna to 1.68 thousand euros per ton when sold from a vessel in the port of Abidjan. Prices for batches of yellowfins from 10 kg and more also fell slightly - to 2.52 thousand euros per ton when sold from a vessel in the port of Abidjan.
With the beginning of autumn, the sashimi market in Japan has begun to improve. Since mid-October 2012, sales have increased both in and out of the Tsukizi fish auction market.
Direct sales of cheaper imported tuna increased outside of the auction, with supermarkets and fish shops the main buyers. In this market segment, relatively inexpensive Mexican bluefin tuna (2.95 thousand Japanese yen per kilogram) was in good demand.
From January to June 2012, the supply of fresh skipjack tuna in Japan decreased by 20% compared to the same period in 2011. As a result of insufficient supplies, the price of fish remained relatively high at 550-600 yen per kilogram in the Tsukizi market, more than 100 yen higher than last year.
From June 2011 to June 2012, bluefin and skipjack tuna consumption in Japan fell by 12% and 11%, respectively. According to another report, the number of sushi restaurants in the country, including traditional sushi bars, decreased by 10% between 2006 and 2011. At the same time, despite a decrease in overall consumption of tuna, imports of this fish to Japan (both fresh and frozen) in the first half of 2012 were high compared to 2011.
USA
The fresh tuna market in the United States is on a recovery trend, reflected in imports of canned tuna and tuna products. Despite the fact that the main supply on the market consisted of cheaper yellowfin, imports of more expensive and quality fish - bluefin tuna and bulleye - also increased compared to the same period in 2011.
Imports of frozen tuna fillets and fish steaks also increased by 4%, despite a significant increase in the average import value of 50%. It is worth noting that the export volume from the leading supplier - Indonesia - was 33% lower than in the previous year. At the same time, deliveries from the Philippines and other countries in the Pacific region, including Japan, increased (354 tons in 2012 against 57 tons since the beginning of 2011).
canned tuna
The production of canned tuna is currently under pressure from a variety of sources. Rising prices for the production of packaging materials, lower consumer demand in major markets, a sharp increase in raw material costs, growing demands from environmental organizations and the continued negative publicity for tuna consumption have affected the state of the global canned tuna market.
In the US market, the demand for canned tuna remains not very active. In the current economic situation, consumers are reluctant to accept the higher cost of fish, while supermarkets do not yet have the opportunity to promote this product at a low price, as was the case in the past.
In addition to rising prices, tuna producers are being targeted by conservation groups for allegedly high levels of mercury in the fish and environmental issues. All this also led to a decrease in tuna consumption.
During the first half of 2012, the volume of imports in the market decreased by 23% compared to the same period in 2011. In monetary terms, imports, however, turned out to be slightly lower due to higher prices for tuna.
To restore demand, major tuna sellers have introduced new products for sale. The American company Starkist recently began producing portioned tuna dishes, and Chicken of the Sea's "perishable" canned food became a hit in the US market.
Europe
In addition to the eurozone crisis and rising prices, the negative factor that affected the canned tuna market in the European Union was far from the best weather conditions. Lower consumer spending has had a negative impact on sales of finished canned tuna. This was reflected in the decline in imports of high-quality canned fish from Spain to Italy: in the first half of 2012, the volume of supplies in this market segment decreased by 11% compared to the same period in 2011. At the same time, deliveries from the Seychelles (by 14.8%) and Côte d'Ivoire (by 109%) increased.
As in Italy, in France, the main volume of imports was carried out due to the growth of supplies from the Seychelles (which amounted to 30.4%) and Côte d'Ivoire (77%), while imports from Spain and Ecuador fell sharply - by 46.7% and 21.6% respectively. As a result, the Seychelles came to the fore as the main supplier in this market. Overall, imports to France decreased by more than 11% from January to July 2012.
Imports of canned tuna to the German market, which is sensitive to changes, also showed a negative trend (down 11.7%). Also, after a significant increase in the previous year, from January to June 2012, the volume of imports to the UK decreased by 11.4% compared to the same period in 2011.
Falling demand and high prices have had an impact on the import of semi-finished tuna fillets in two main markets - Spain and Italy. During the first half of 2012, imports to Spain from Thailand fell by as much as 80%.
Asia
High prices for canned tuna, coupled with weak demand in major markets, have weighed heavily on Thai canned food exports. During the first half of 2012, the volume of exports decreased significantly - by almost 25%. At the same time, in monetary terms, it was approximately equal to the figures for the previous year. The United States remained the largest sales market for Asian countries, although here, too, supplies fell by more than 10%.
During the first half of 2012, tuna imports to Japan increased sharply - by 13% in volume and by 22.1% in monetary terms compared to the previous year. It reached a figure of 24 thousand tons or 11.9 billion Japanese yen (150 million US dollars). The main players in the market are three countries - members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. They account for 97% of the supply in this segment.
prospects
Raw skipjack tuna supplies were forecast to increase in the last quarter of 2012, with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission's ban on lure fishing ending after October 1st. At the same time, this cannot contribute to a fall in prices, since demand for raw materials traditionally grows at the end of the year. In the near future, the main growth in sales of tuna will be observed in the emerging markets of Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, which will offset the decline in consumer demand in the US and EU markets.
From the beginning of February, another ban on the production of bluefin tuna comes into force. About why there are so many restrictions on its catch and how blue fin tuna differs from its closest relatives, says the chef of the restaurant Doucet X.O. Said Fadli.
At what time of the year is tuna the most delicious?
The time of year doesn't really matter. Tuna does not have its own special season, despite the fact that it is not grown in artificial conditions. For a thousand years, tuna has been caught in the Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to Mexico, in the Pacific Ocean, in the Mediterranean Sea. It makes no sense to talk about the quality of fish caught in different seas. Tuna is the same everywhere - during the year it migrates, travels underwater from one camp to another. Another thing is important - since the seventies of the last century, Japanese cuisine has come into fashion all over the world. The increased demand for sushi has led to the gradual disappearance of tuna, especially blue tuna, the best. Therefore, there are now a huge number of catch restrictions, and the duration of these bans can vary. Environmentalists have noticed somewhere a decrease in the number of tuna - stop, the catch immediately stops. Here, for example, from the beginning of February, another ban will come into force, and you will not find fresh bluefin tuna in restaurants during the day with fire.
Why is blue fin tuna the best?
The three most common types of tuna are bluefin tuna, yellowtail tuna and ahi tuna. Blue fin tuna is the largest of the whole family, just a huge fish. This tuna has red meat and a silver-gray body with blue-gray fins, from which it got its name. But the most important thing is the meat, tasty, juicy and tender, like butter. If the average weight of bluefin tuna is 150 kg, then yellowtail weighs about 15. Its skin is lighter, and the meat is yellow-brown. The taste of yellow tail tuna is not as rich and saturated as that of its counterpart, one might say, not as embossed, less distinct, lighter, almost transparent. Bluefin tuna prefers the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and the yellowtail prefers the waters of the Pacific Ocean. As for ahi tuna, it tastes more like bluefin tuna (although, of course, it is much inferior to it), and in weight - like yellowtail. This is a small fish, its meat is red, but not dark. It lives in the Atlantic, and in the Pacific Ocean, and there are also a lot of it in the Mediterranean Sea.
- By what criteria do you evaluate the quality of bluefin tuna?
Usually it is not possible to see the whole fish - it is too big. But still, of course, you need to smell it and touch it. If the meat is elastic (the finger should not fall into the meat, as in mashed potatoes), odorless, dark red, almost brown, and blood oozes from the ridge - everything is in order, this is a fresh fish of excellent quality.
Which tuna is better - wild frozen or farm fresh?
Well, farm tuna is no match for wild tuna! No attempt to grow this fish in farm conditions has been successful so far. Reproducing the natural taste, texture of meat and aroma simply does not work. Too free and freedom-loving this fish, probably. Bluefin tuna is very large, I personally saw a fish weighing 750 kilograms. Farmers try to keep their tuna as big as wild tuna, they feed it. The fish grow beautiful, their skin is brighter, but it's all in vain. Because in the taste of farm-raised tuna, something artificial is felt, some unnatural additives, and the color of the meat is faded, pink. And although it is much easier to get such tuna than wild tuna, and it costs less, I do not recommend buying it.
- What dishes besides sushi and sashimi are made from tuna?
Yes, whatever! Just fresh tuna with rice is a very common and popular topic now. Tuna can be baked, fried, cooked with vegetables. In Mexico and Peru, they make tuna sandwiches, for this you need to marinate it in oil, spices and lemon juice for 4-6 hours. Personally, I really like to lightly grill the tuna, a couple of seconds on each side, so that the meat in the middle remains red, raw. The only thing I would like to advise is not to grill the yellowtail, its meat dries out very quickly. Yellowtail makes good tartare, ceviche and carpaccio.
What foods do you think are best served with tuna?
It all depends on your preferences. Love Mediterranean cuisine - with olive oil and lemon juice, you can with vegetables. Indifferent to Asian - with teriyaki and soy sauce. Prefer exotic - then fresh mangoes and avocados will do. A great option is rolls with fresh tuna and fruit, complemented by mango, avocado, fresh cucumber and a sauce of lychee, vinegar and lemon juice. Salad "Nicoise" - generally a classic. The tuna needs to be seasoned with paprika, salt, pepper and olive oil, then grilled until it just turns white. Then add boiled potatoes, beets, green beans, olives, capers and quail eggs. The sauce is made from vinegar, olive oil, balsamic and lemon juice.
- And how is tuna cooked in your native Morocco?
Oh, tuna steak is great in Morocco! First, it is marinated for 3-4 minutes with cilantro, parsley, saffron, ginger, salt, pepper, chili and olive oil. Then it is laid out in a tajine on vegetables - tomatoes, sweet peppers and onions with lemon and garlic, on top - a little olive oil, olives, fish broth. And baked for half an hour. Tajine - national Moroccan dishes - can be replaced by ordinary foil, it will turn out no worse.
A 222-kilogram bluefin tuna fished off the coast of Aomori prefecture was sold for an unprecedentedly high sum at a fish auction in Tokyo. The huge fish went under the hammer for 155.4 million yen (approximately $1.75 million at current exchange rates).
This is an unprecedented value deal. Last year, at the same auction, bluefin tuna sold for 56.49 million yen ($736,000 at the exchange rate in January 2012, or $647,000 at the current exchange rate). At the same time, last year's record holder weighed much more.
For the second year in a row, the operator of the Kiyomura sushi restaurant chain became the owner of the giant fish. The head of the company, Kiyoshi Kimura, said that the purchase "was a little expensive", but they hope to "support Japan by supplying (to restaurants) good tuna in this way."
The fight for the largest bluefin tuna in the first fish auction of the year at the Tsukiji auction is a kind of fun for the elite of Tokyo's restaurateurs. Auctions are not only an important element of city life, but also a colorful spectacle. For a long time, travel companies included their visits in tours for foreigners with great success.
However, due to the bad manners of foreigners, who not only photographed the process, but also sometimes interfered with the auction, trying to break into the front rows and even touch the fish with their hands, the market administration banned tourists from visiting the auction in 2011.
With each passing year, Japan, which remains one of the world's largest consumer markets for tuna, finds it increasingly difficult to secure a reliable supply. The international catch quota is gradually decreasing, while the demand for this fish is growing in other countries of the Asian region, especially in China.
Tuna for the Russian fisherman still belongs to the class of exotic fish. In general, many of us underestimate sea fishing. At the same time, if you have at least had experience in catching medium-sized tuna specimens, then you understand what exciting collisions catching and fighting giants can promise. For a start, it is better for a Russian fisherman to go for tuna in the Red or Mediterranean Sea. Below we will talk about how large tunas are caught in Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas .
In general, tuna is the kind of fish that can be purposefully found and caught, both in the seas relatively close to Russia, and in those remote oceanic and sea waters that belong to the subtropical, tropical, subequatorial and equatorial zones.
I once wrote about catching sharks in the Mediterranean in approximately the same way. Today, tuna is caught in the same region with no less success, and impressive specimens are often caught. When I worked on the island of Capri near Naples, I knew a captain who was very fond of tuna fishing, since this fish resists as hard as possible when playing, and you can catch it purposefully if you know the migration routes. In the Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas, bluefin tuna actively feeds on sardine during certain periods of the year and makes regular movements along the coastal islands, at some distance from them, adhering to a certain line. At the same time, there is a tendency that smaller individuals feed in the spring, and larger ones in the fall. Schools of trophy tuna are usually small. A flock can consist of only 4-5 individuals, sometimes a few more.
Knowing the time and direction of movement of shoals, Mediterranean fishermen go to sea on boats equipped with modern echo sounders, drifting gear and other equipment. A large number of boats can accumulate on the routes of movement of tuna in certain areas.
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This is partly due to the fact that when the boats are not drifting at extreme distances from each other, it is easier for captains to guess the lines of movement of the tuna, because they can go closer or further from the islands. In addition, there are areas where the paths of different schools of tuna intersect.
Feeding.The task of catching looks quite simple. Also, as with catching Mediterranean sharks, proper baiting plays a huge role. Sardines are used as bait. Tunas love this fish and hunt it in the sea, it is familiar to them.
Usually, a few weeks before the active tuna fishing phase, captains of boats and fishing yachts stock up on crates of frozen sardines. When they go out to sea for fishing, they take up to 15 boxes with them. The day before, the sardines are thawed. At the stern of the boat, as a rule, there is a special table for baiting and cutting sardines. The first task is to create a feeding trail. To do this, thawed sardines are cut into two or more parts and thrown overboard quite methodically. Feeding cut sardines alternates with feeding whole sardines. This is due to the fact that a school of tuna can pass at different depths, from 25 to 80 m, and cut and whole sardines sink at different speeds. Whole sardines sink more slowly. Therefore, if, say, a flock of tuna goes at great depths, then having found the bait distributed throughout the entire water column, the fish can rise higher on the same or the next run. In this way, the tuna will be given a chance to quickly find the sardine that is baited on the hook of the drifting tackle.
In addition, some captains on their boats use special stuffing machines with a large fillet. Such a meat grinder is mounted on the stern and minced meat methodically comes out of it into the water, creating an odorous trace of fish in the water. This smell is quickly approached by tunas that find themselves in the water area chosen for fishing. But you need to take into account that sharks can also come up with too plentiful and tasty bait.
For bait, use half or a whole sardine. Half is pierced through the head in the eye area. If a whole sardine is taken, then the hook is inserted through the mouth and fixed in the body of the fish with the sting out. In some regions of the world's oceans, small tuna are used as bait to catch giant tuna.
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Tackle placement and rigging. At the same time, it should be noted that the coverage of the fishing zone is quite large. Usually, from 2 to 4 rods are installed in special nests on the stern (photo 4777). The vessel is placed on the windward side or focusing on the surface current - this is necessary so that the gear does not overlap. And in order for the equipment to be located at different distances from the vessel and at different depths, floats are used. Recently, most anglers aimed at catching trophy fish use ordinary inflatable balls as floats, which are fixed on the fishing line with an elastic band. Such a ball, in the case of a bite of a tuna, does not interfere with the fight, since it simply bursts when immersed in water, when the tuna, trying to free itself from the tackle, pulls into the depths.
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If, say, three rods are used at the same time, then one ball can be released at a distance of 40 m from the boat, the second at 60 m and the third at 80 m. The fishing depth on the rods at the discretion of the angler can be from 25 to 70 m.
For tuna weighing 50-90 kg, rods and marine Dacron line with a test load of 70-90 are used. lb
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For giant tunas weighing more than 100 kg, gear with a load of 100-130 lb . The length of the rod can vary between 165-210 cm. For this type of fishing, a trolling tuna rod may well be suitable, since it withstands loads well and is convenient for playing, and the bait is still cast manually, and then the boat moves away from it. For example, in our sale you can see a sea rod Miya Epoch Power Fighter Tuna Pro 190 (plus power handle Power Bat For Power Fighter ). It has all the necessary qualities for playing big bluefin tuna. M can also fitOrsk side rod Penn Tuna Stick 561 50/100 Trolling.
You need to have a high-speed reel, as tuna is a very fast fish and when weakened, you need to quickly take up the slack. The reel must hold at least 600 m of line. Focusing on manufacturers, we can advise you to opt for coils Shimano and Penn - they are reliable and proven in practice by catching giants. It is better to use coils of class 50-80 lb with adjustable brake setting. In the mode waiting for a bite, it is set to one effort, and when playing the fish to another.
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At the end of the fishing line, a fluorocarbon leader with a diameter of 1-1.5 mm and a length of 2-3 m should be installed. It ensures the invisibility of the equipment in very clear water. Specially hardened hooks and swivels are used for tuna fishing. It is better to take marine hooks No. 8 / 0-12 / 0 from well-known manufacturers, such as " Mustad" or "Owner ". The elements of the load are taken in bulk, depending on the depth of fishing, but not less than 150-200 g. The extended sinker is fixed on the fishing line with an elastic band and, when playing the tuna, is often disconnected without creating interference.
Catching tactics.When drifting, they catch both with the engine turned off and with the engine turned on, so that it is easier to manipulate the location of abandoned gear and rigs. In addition, sometimes the boat moves at low speed in order to create a trail of minced meat or pieces of fish behind it. Then, perhaps, the tuna will chase the boat, collecting bait and pecking at the bait thrown by them. As soon as the tuna is on the stern trail, the captain turns on the engine at the lowest speed, and the baits go down to the depth.
When fishing in the drift, waiting for the approach of tuna, the angler is guided by the signals from other boats, as well as by the indicators of the echo sounder. Usually the captains of yachts gathered in the fishing area know each other, and if someone took tuna, he informs others about it. Then you can navigate by the distance, direction and depth of movement of the flock. If a shoal of sardine or other forage fish is near the surface, then the circling of seagulls above the water can also serve as a guide to find fish to some extent. Occasionally, you can see how large tunas jump out of the water on their routes. Small tuna jump out of the water more often in the excitement of chasing a surface-going school. If a shoal of tuna appears near the fishing area and becomes visible on the echo sounder screen, but passes by, the captain may decide to change the fishing location.
Since the depth of fishing in migration areas is too large and the usual anchor will not help to slow down the movement of the vessel, a parachute anchor is used, which in the folded position looks like a bag, but gradually sinking deeper, opens and slows down the movement of the vessel. In this case, it should be taken into account that the direction of surface and deep currents is often different.
The success of fighting giants largely depends on the coherence of the team
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When the tuna gives in a little, then pulls the rig again, the ship's operator often has to back up. Tunas weighing from 40 to 100 kg sometimes have to be hauled from half an hour to 3 hours, and fish weighing more than 150 kg up to 10 or more hours. At the same time, when a particularly large specimen sits on the hook, then after two or three hours of struggle, the tackle has to be transferred to another angler. And so on until the fish is tired and brought to the board.
After biting, the rod is removed from the nest and inserted into the waist support. For example, the Bimini Bay Tsunami Rod Belts TS-M-3 is best suited for fighting big bluefin tuna and other sea giants. The straps holding it are ideal for comfort and control while fishing. In order for the stop to have a minimum weight, it is made from the most durable polymer and stainless steel alloys. It is very reliable and resistant to corrosion.
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When bringing the tuna to the board, an assistant with a hook should be ready.
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Residents of the Mediterranean, who specialize in fishing for tuna with amateur tackle, not only make their living by taking tourists on well-paid fishing trips, but also by putting up giant tuna for sale. But fishing regulations in the Mediterranean prohibit catching more than one large tuna per day, so other caught fish are released.
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The value of tuna meat is that it has the highest (compared to the meat of other fish) protein content. It is within 20-30% of the total amount of nutrients in the meat of this fish, which is comparable only to the protein content in the caviar of some fish.
Tuna is a large and very strong fish, belongs to the mackerel family and is found mainly in the warm waters of the oceans. The main feature of tuna is that it almost never stands still and is in constant motion.
In this article, we will talk about how tuna is caught, describe the basic rules and reveal some secrets. Fishing for tuna is a very exciting activity. If you know the features of this fish and strictly follow the basic rules of fishing, then a good catch and a great adventure are guaranteed.
There are 15 types of tuna worldwide. All of them are predators and feed mainly on small fish, crustaceans and mollusks.
Almost all types of tuna move in the water column, huddled in schools. But big bluefin tuna, unlike the rest of their brethren, often swim in small groups or generally alone. It is capable of speeds up to 70 km per hour.
The most common types of tuna are:
Yellowfin tuna is the most attractive among all its fellows. Found in deep warm ocean waters. It is caught on trolling gear and used with all sorts of baits, often combining wobblers and spinners with replants of animal origin. This is a serious and strong opponent who fights for a long time, actively goes into the depths, unwinding the fishing line won back by the angler.
Bluefin or bluefin tuna is found in the northern part of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as in the Mediterranean and Black seas. It is characterized by rapid growth and, being the largest species of tuna, reaches over 2.5 m in length. This is a strong and fast fish, which is the most interesting, and therefore a very desirable trophy.
The blackfin tuna lives in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a pelagic fish that feeds on small fish, crustaceans and plankton. It is caught by casting, trolling or live bait in the upper layers of the water.
Longfin tuna is found in all tropical and subtropical seas and also belongs to pelagic fish. It rarely comes ashore, lives in the open ocean and makes seasonal migrations to cold zones to the coasts of New England, southern Brazil and the northern Gulf of Mexico. Tallfin tuna are caught with trolling gear and lures using rigs made from dead fish.
Bigeye tuna is found in the warm waters of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Adults weigh about 100 kg and live at great depths, while juveniles often live near the surface, forming quite numerous flocks.
Tuna fishing is primarily exciting because of the difficult, long and exciting haul, during which a strong fish actively and stubbornly resists. Therefore, it is important to choose the right tackle for catching tuna, taking into account the characteristics of the fish itself and the method of fishing.
When fishing for tuna by sea trolling from a boat or other specially equipped vessel on the high seas, the following is used:
sea rods , capable of withstanding extreme loads, from 1.65 to 2.15 meters long and 30-150 lb dough;
marine multiplier reels , which must match the selected rod, hold 500-600 m of fishing line or cord and be powerful enough to play active tuna;
sea lures in the form of silicone octopuses and wobblers, as well as a small fish for catching live bait.
For deep-sea tuna fishing in the open sea from a drifting vessel in light wind and small waves (sea drifting), you will need:
powerful sea rod, multiplier reel and fishing line with a test of at least 130 lb;
live bait (sardine, herring or mackerel) on a hook no.
An echo sounder will also come in handy to calculate the depth of the tuna migratory trail.
Tuna fishing has its own characteristics due to the strong nature of the fish, the specifics of its behavior and habitats:
shoals of trophy tuna are usually small and number no more than 5 individuals, but smaller fish stray into larger flocks;
larger tuna is usually caught in the autumn period of fishing;
to go out to sea for fishing should be on specially equipped boats, knowing in advance the time and direction of movement of tuna shoals.
The main stages of fishing for tuna from a ship on the high seas:
Feeding. It is very important to organize it correctly. For complementary foods, pre-thawed sardines are most often used. They create a food trail, methodically throwing a fish cut into several pieces and a whole fish overboard. At the same time, chopped and whole sardines are constantly alternated to increase the effectiveness of complementary foods.
Equipment placement. Typically, 2 to 4 rods are installed at the stern, while the vessel is placed on the windward side so that the tackle does not overlap. To cover a larger fishing area, tackle is located at different depths and at different distances from the vessel. To do this, use floats or ordinary balloons. The latter are even more convenient due to the fact that they burst as soon as the tuna begins to resist on the hook, and therefore do not interfere with the fight.
Fishing tuna. The success of fighting a particularly large tuna largely depends on the well-coordinated work of the entire team. The process itself can take from half an hour to several hours and then you have to transfer the gear to another angler. Tuna often alternate tactics of resistance: it gives in, then again goes into the depths, so it is often necessary to reverse the ship. And when bringing the fish to the board, you need an assistant with a hook at the ready in order to pick up the prey in time.
Tuna meat contains a lot of useful trace elements, phosphorus and other components necessary for the human body. In addition, well-cooked tuna has an incredible taste and aroma. And there are many ways to cook this fish.
Tuna is a very large marine (oceanic) fish that is a coveted trophy for industrial fishermen and hobbyists alike. In this article, you will learn where to catch tuna, what to fish for, and what gear to use.
Useful information about tuna:
Bluefin tuna is the largest species, while mackerel is the smallest.
Tuna can be found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Tuna also lives in the seas, for example, in the Mediterranean, Red, Adriatic, Aegean, Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. That is, tuna is kept in warm waters rich in small fish, such as sardine or mackerel.
Every year the tuna moves along the same routes, so if you know where to fish, there is a high chance of catching it.
Anglers note that small tunas are more often caught in spring, and larger individuals are caught in autumn. As a rule, flocks of large tunas consist of a dozen individuals, while flocks of small tunas, on the contrary, keep in large schools. We also note that large tuna lives at great depths, 100-150 meters, and small ones are closer to the surface.
When fishing for tuna, it can be detected visually, that is, it can jump out of the water. Another good sign of tuna is the dolphins that feed on small tuna. Diving birds are also a sign of tuna.
Feeding small fish plays a very important role in tuna fishing. Often they take carcasses of sardines, which are thrown both whole and cut in parts. The task of baiting is a clear feed trail, which is created by methodically throwing fish along the path of the vessel. Both chopped and whole sardines are needed for baiting, as chopped fish sink faster, and whole fish slower.
That is, due to the fact that a flock of tuna can be located at different depths, from 20 to 100 m, then having found the bait distributed throughout the water column, the tuna rises higher and its chance to swallow the bait with a hook increases.
For large and medium-sized tuna, a whole sardine is used, and for small, half.
For tuna weighing up to 100 kg, rods are used with a test load of 70-90 lb, if the fish is more than 100 kg, then tackle with a test load of 100-130 lb is used.
The optimal length of the rod is 180-200 cm. Marine Dacron line with a high breaking load is used as the basis.
The reel must be marine grade, preferably multiplier and high-speed, because tuna is very fast and when playing it, you often have to quickly and quickly choose the slack of the fishing line. The capacity of the reel must be more than 600 m of line. Brake adjustment is also important. We recommend proven coils from Shimano , Daiwa and Penn.
Also a very important tool for catching tuna is an echo sounder, which allows you to determine the depth of the fish, its size and speed of movement. Since tuna can be found at a depth of more than 100 meters, the echo sounder should penetrate such a depth without any problems. High-quality marine echo sounders cost from $500, and some models also have functionality related to GPS maps of the area, which is very convenient.
Equipment for catching tuna consists of the usual components, but their size and strength are very impressive. Sturdy line, leader, sinker, hook and large round bobber designed for tuna fishing.
The leash is made of thick fluorocarbon with a diameter of 1-2 mm and a length of 2-3 meters. Since the water in the sea and ocean is very clean, tuna sees well, and fluorocarbon is almost invisible in the water, which will not alert the fish.
As you understand, tuna hooks and swivels must be of maximum strength, so you can’t save on them. Marine hooks from firms are suitable Owner And mustad №8/0-12/0.
Weight used sinkers depends on the depth of fishing, the heavier the load, the greater the depth of immersion of the bait. Most often, sinkers weighing 200-300 grams are used.
If tuna fishing goes with several rods at once, then float balls are used, which delimit the space between the snaps, preventing them from tangling with each other. For example, one ball descends 50 meters from the vessel, the second ball descends 70 meters and the third ball descends 90 meters. The depth of tuna fishing can be from 10 to 150 meters.
We also recommend articles about catching the following marine fish: halibut, flounder, cod, bearing.
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Aluminum boats for fishing |
