Get Bent Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Hi all – first time poster here. I’ve decided to have a crack at the tuna this season, I’ve been fishing all my life but never really targeted the larger pelagics, so just after some knowhow. I’ve got a Hydofield 18 which should do the trick but it’s more about the rigs, times, water temp etc. The outfits I have are 7000h Dogfight with TCurve 400 (new), Shimano Sustain 6000 with TCurve King Mac, and a TLD 20 with Livefibre rod. I’ve bought a few skirted lures and have learnt (I think) to crimp and made some of my own rigs up. I live in Canberra and will fish mainly Batemans Bay, JB, Wollongong areas. Any tips very much welcome. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefish Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Get some bigger gear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdraft Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 And be prepared to do long days a very very long way off shore. I wouldn't want to hook a nice fin on a tld 20. That would be a punish to bring in Your gear sounds very light for nearly all decent game fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croydon Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 (edited) The guys are right, if you are serious about chasing some game fish invest in some heavier gear. Look at TLD's 50's as a minimum. Even better a couple of second hand tiagra 50's and matching rods. But before all that, if you are really serious book yourself on a charter with some mates and give it a go that way. Game fishing is hours of boredom (and fuel) for minutes of madness. You will learn heaps from a good charter operator and if you like what you see, then start getting yourself prepared. Then start reading as much as you can about game fishing, how to tie knots rigging lures and baits etc.It's a fun learning curve!! But most of all, buy the best quality gear and terminal tackle you can afford and make sure your boat and boating skills are up to spending all day 30k offshore. Cheers..........Dave Edited May 26, 2016 by mrsswordfisherman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Bent Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 Thanks boys - so you think the Dogfight and TCurve 400 Jig stick is too small? I guessed the other two outfits would be a little underdone on larger tuna but thanks for the confirmation. I did say I've never really done this style of fishing but in reality I've gone out with others a few times - so not a complete noob I just haven't targeted with my own boat and gear. I'm keen to stick to stand-up spin gear. A couple of weeks ago I spent 2 days chasing Marlin off the south coast, in two days we got one small stripy tuna and managed two strikes from Marlin without hookup. Also fished the Bermi Bluewater Classic a couple of years ago for 3 days of nothing! so I know about the boredom part - just keen to experience the mayhem!. What water temp do you look for for tuna? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amkr Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 (edited) I've got the exact same plan for yellowfin this year.Going to head out and give them a go.I've been looking at the tyrnos reels which are the step up from the TLD.From what I've read you're looking for about 19.5c.My plan of attack so far was going to be run out to Browns, stop pas 12 mile for a quick jig. Drag some plastic through the ocean until 1pm ish and then start cubing hoping for a sunset bite.planning for LONG days, early starts and late nights, hours of doing nothing, thousands in gear and fuel all for a couple of hours of mayhem Edited May 27, 2016 by amkr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Bent Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 Ha Ha.........are we nuts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 your dog fight is fine for tuna and yellowfin in the 20 to 30kg size will be no trouble on that gear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croydon Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Sounds like you've got the bug! That can be expensive............ For me I find the traditional game rods/reels are more versatile and better suited to the job. Spin gear can be real hard work on big fish, but good fun. Each to their own. I'm out fairly often off Batemans Bay game fishing etc, so if you're looking at coming down send me a pm and I'll let you know what's happening. Might even be able to meet up out there one weekend. Good luck and hope the fin turn up in numbers, it's been a few years and we are due!! Cheers........... Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Bent Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 Thanks guys. Dave if you ever want a deckie to share costs I'd be keen - great way to learn, otherwise I'll let you know when I head down. Cheers Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croydon Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 No worries Brett, get in touch when you come down and if I'm heading out we will try and get you out for a run. Cheers........ Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc6264 Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 I'm happy to hop on board as well. Maybe a charter could be good.... Learn a few tips.. And I could use your gear Brett Cheers Craig PS - Put some lures in by beach fish bag.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Bent Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share Posted May 29, 2016 Yo bro - sounds like my tackles not big enough (the wife's been saying that for years). Can't wait to get out there and chase some Toona, hope it's a good season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonD Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) Don't be put off from using the spin gear, that's pretty much all we use on our boat. Sold my game outfits as they were just to hard for my kids to use. Go onto YouTube and look up Narooma striped Marlin and Southern bluefin tuna Narooma, you will see my daughter at 14 years old knocking over tuna 60 kg + on a spin stick with a saragosa 10000 using 12 kg drag. The Marlin was on a saragosa 25000, she's also landed yellowfin and bigeye tuna on her saragosa 8000 not to mention many kings to 20 kg. Next she plans on taking on a broadbill on spin gear, trying to find a sub 100kg fish in 550m of water is going to be tricky!!! The big heavy game gear is a much safer option due to the line capacity but fighting a fish without harnesses and bulky gear is so much more fun. Contrary to belief chassing game doesn't need to be expensive, on Sunday I did 120 km round trip for a fuel burn of 38 lt and if you own your own boat you don't have to leave untill well after sunrise when things warm up a little. Jon Edited August 16, 2016 by JonD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Bent Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 Thanks Jon, I've added an 8000 Expedition with t-curve 400 jig stick to the arsenal - much prefer the spin outfits and I reckon the two big Diawa's will have anything I encounter covered. If I get dusted up then so be it, but I doubt it. I've caught 15kg Bluefin off SA on my snapper gear so I reckon these things will handle a 60+kg tuna easy. I'm more worried about how "I" would handle it but at 6'2" and 95kg I reckon if your 14yo can do then I should be ok LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonD Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) Thanks Jon, I've added an 8000 Expedition with t-curve 400 jig stick to the arsenal - much prefer the spin outfits and I reckon the two big Diawa's will have anything I encounter covered. If I get dusted up then so be it, but I doubt it. I've caught 15kg Bluefin off SA on my snapper gear so I reckon these things will handle a 60+kg tuna easy. I'm more worried about how "I" would handle it but at 6'2" and 95kg I reckon if your 14yo can do then I should be ok LOL. Her bluefin were knocked over in less than 10 mins, though they didn't go anywhere near as hard as her much smaller big eye. She's now 15 and not your average 15 yr old girl, she won her last age class triathlon and has been litrely fishing before she could walk. Her skills in free diving and spearing have also gained her sponsorship recently. Jon Big eye tuna after a night of broadbill fishing Edited August 16, 2016 by JonD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Bent Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 Nice fish - she's a champ mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croydon Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 That's a cracking photo John, great to see your daughter doing so well. Hope these tuna hang around for a while and all the toys we have bought can get a test out. Cheers........... Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Bent Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 Amen to that Dave:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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