Tuna fishing at the NOAA weather buoy.

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Written by Chase Cornell Monday, 31 May 2010 20:10

Live baits, spinning rods, top waters and more!

Andrew invited me along on a trip to the NOAA weather buoy 150 miles offshore from Fort Pierce inlet.  We had arranged for two hundred and fifty live baits to bring along and Dave was already waiting in a slip in his tricked out Skiff with some awesome pilchards when we pulled up to the ramp.  We cleared the inlet around midnight with the wind at our back. The 32 Whitewater center console, powered by twin 250 Yamaha Four Stroke Outboards, sliced effortlessly across the calm ocean, the radar spinning aimlessly out into the empty night.

 We arrived at the buoy before the sun came up with an arsenal of spininng gear rigged with live bait hooks and top water plugs.  The set ups included: Four Fin-Nor OFFSHORE spinning reels, two Quantum Cabo PTs and two pairs of Shimano Saragosa and Spheros reels.  The rods were a mix between Shimano Tevela and Crowder E-Series stand up spinning rods.  All set ups were spooled with 65 to 80 pound braided line.  With a spinning reel, a knot that can travel through the guides is crucial. For leader to line I like to use a uni to uni connection with 60 and 80 pound fluorocarbon leaders.  I have had outstanding luck with this type of set up for live bait and casting to pelagics.    There are other durable connections, but when the action is hot, the uni to uni is quick to tie which gets you back in the game in sort order.

 As the sun came up over the restless and calm ocean, yellowfin tuna began crashing the surface around the buoy.  With live baits out in the back, the open bow of the center console makes an ideal dance floor to launch a top water plug into feeding fish. The lure of choice was a chartreuse Yozuri Big Game series popper.  On my second cast a big yellowfin came out of the water like a submarine and inhaled my offering.  The fish made a drag blistering run, but the Cabo stood tall.  The compact, light design and heavy drag are a perfect match for braided line and I was able to negotiate the big tuna without the strain of a bulky conventional set up.

 After some high fives we quickly had fish coming up in the live chum behind the boat and we were hooked up on two yellowfin, one on a pilchard and another on a popper.  The Fin-Nor reel, although a heavier reel than the other outfits onboard, handles the dog fight big yellowfins inflict on tackle in a stand up fight with ease.

 There were other fish that took our offerings. Dolphin, blackfin, and skip jack were all catches on spinning gear.  With the sun high, and a long run ahead of us, we packed up and began making the trek back across the stream.  The ride home was beautiful with smooth seas and a surprise visit from a pod of wright whales.

 Catching yellowfins on spinning gear will test every facet of your angling aptitude.  When action is hot like it was on this calm May morning, having lines in the water at first light was crucial to our success.  Furthermore, having a multitude of rods available, rigged and ready to fish, will allow you to put fish in the box and spend less time retying.      Live bait and spinning rods offer a unique and fun alternative to fishing for tuna on the troll.

PHOTOS FROM OUR TRIP: