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Hunting tuna
We had gone almost 20 miles offshore from Eco Beach (Western
Australia) into the Indian Ocean, on board the 6 meter long charter boat.
The guide/skipper had positioned the boat on top of a reef that he said would produce a lot of fish (coral trout, trevally etc.).
With high expectations,we lowered our soft plastics over the side and worked them energetically .....for several hours!
Nothing. The guide said that he would try another reef...still
nothing.
Our spirits were starting to flag, the day was hot and even baited
hooks lowered by the guide were not yielding anything.
And then I saw it, a splashing on the ocean some 80 meters
away, which could only mean - tuna!
By the time the anchor was raised the tuna had disappeared but the
skipper had already seen a flock of birds diving on the horizon,which meant baitfish being attacked by tuna from underneath .
A mad scramble ensued to put on new lures on the fishing gear (3piece Shimano travel rod 10-15 kg.,30lb braid and 50lb.mono leader,loaded onto Stella 5000SW reels).
We raced to the area, our fingers cocked and ready to send the 60 gm. metal lures ( Surecatch Bishops and Spanyid Raiders) flying into the melee.
Cast and reel in as if our lives depended on it.....and yes, the tuna had
seen the lures and attacked them!
Instant hookup and a sizzling run that peeled off 100 meters of line in seconds...don't touch the drag, just wait it out for the run to stop.
As soon as that has happened, we start the battle..pump and wind
until the fish is near the boat.
The tuna will now stay below the boat and turn in circles, you have
to grit your teeth and slug it out.
Finally, the fish is on board and is identified as a mackerel tuna, a very tough fighter compared to long-tail tuna which also inhabits these waters.
Pictures are taken quickly and the fish speared back into the ocean,
as the guide does not want these for the table.
And then another group is spotted a kilometer away, we chase the tuna and re-enact the battle.It is a triple hookup by the three rods onboard, which means a dexterous dance around the boat to avoid crossing lines and lost fish.
Turn by turn, each fish is eventually landed successfully and
then released.
We chased numerous schools of these mackerel tuna that day for non-stop action and thus turned a listless fishing trip into an exciting one.
We had sore arms and backs for the rest of the day but never a moment of regret...it was hard to hold a glass of Scotch at the bar
that evening!!
Hunting for tuna does that to you!
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No fish for hours - feeling down!
Tuna on - that's a special unknotted net which doesn't damage the fish
Beautiful mackerel tuna in hand
These fish were quite heavy (5kg approx.)
In between the tuna fishing, we trolled with XRap 30 Magnum in green mackerel colour for spanish mackerel
We were successful in catching the spanish mackerel
It was kept for the table
I can also pose like that - with a little help from my friends!
High speed spinning reel and metal lures - these are all you need apart from your rod to catch tuna - good luck!
Kingfish
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