Lake Fishing

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing: The Basics

By Dylan Smith 25 May, 2023 6 mins read

A few things are necessary before you go fishing for yellowfin tuna in North Carolina. These are some tips to help you choose the right boat and know the season. These tips can help you maximize your fishing experiences and catch the most yellowfin possible. This knowledge will make it easy to catch a huge yellowfin.

Season

The seasons for yellowfin fishing in North Caroline vary greatly. Yellowfin tuna can be caught by recreational anglers throughout the year. However, they are most active in spring. Yellowfins are usually caught on topwater plugs, jigs, and trolled lures. Yellowfins are known to attack in groups, jumping out of the water to chase bait during spring season. These large fish can look similar to 50-pound footballs but the fight is intense and the runs are strong.

The Northeast Corner of Big Rock has the highest concentrations of baitfish and the strongest currents. The northeast corner is ideal for yellowfin fishing during tournaments that feature billfish. Dillon suggests fishing elsewhere during the week because the fighting and trolling can be impeded by the small boats. Fishing in Big Rock is not necessary if you can catch the tuna in a calmer, uncrowded ocean.

Yellowfin Tuna can be caught in calmer seas during the summer. Yellowfins prefer water temperatures between 70 and 78 degrees, but they don't like high temperatures. As such, fishing in midsummer is not a good idea. Look for birds that are in large groups and bonitos on the surface to find the best times to catch these fish. They can be found by using bonitos, glass minnows, and other indicators such as glass minnows.

Spring: Yellowfins in the Gulf Stream off North Carolina's coast are abundant in spring. North Carolina yellowfin tuna fishing offers the chance to battle a massive beast. With a generous regulatory allowance, yellowfins can be brought home with a great deal of meat. If you are looking for a good yellowfin fishing trip, it's the time to plan your trip now!

Take a look at these tips

Yellowfin tuna thrives in deep water and are highly migratory. Although other tuna species can spawn year-round, yellowfin tuna prefers to stay close to shore to maintain their preferred temperature range. The younger species will usually swim close to the surface, while the larger, more mature tuna will be deeper into the sea, mixing with other species. Yellowfin tuna are prized table fare, and NC fishing charters focus their efforts on the species.

North Carolina tuna fishing is best done on a large, seaworthy charter boat. While the fishing season can vary greatly, recreational anglers still catch tuna throughout winter. Yellowfin tuna can be caught using artificial lures, ballyhoo/seawitch gears, and other methods. These fish can also be caught using a planer rig. You can also try a fishing charter using a larger boat for a more challenging day.

Charter boats typically use blue/white Ilander saris or multicolored spreader bars. Yellowfin are attracted by pink and other green colors. You can try a black/purple sleeve on cloudy days if time permits. A naked-rigged bait is also an option if you are on a tight budget. It's possible that a tuna will be attracted to an unseen bait and avoid a skirt altogether.

You can lure a yellowfin tuna by rigging it using a plastic lure, or a rubber flies. These lures will work very well in the right conditions. These lures are more likely to draw a bite than rigged natural baits. You should adjust the hook length before you bait your lures. This will ensure that it doesn’t bounce off of the water and get scared.

Schooling species

There are several reasons why yellowfin tunas are called schooling species. They often swim in groups consisting of at least two species. Yellowfin, unlike other fish species such as sharks or billfish, often swim in groups of at least two species. However, they are unique in the fact that they tend to school together. In addition to schooling, yellowfin are also known to congregate with driftwood, patches of seagrass, and even dead marine mammals.

Small schools create strong bonds between fish and their communities that can last for many decades. These bonds could be due to kin recognition and general school fidelity. General school fidelity develops before the larval cohorts disperse, thereby preserving most of the brood-mates. Observations of small yellowfin leaving FADs in sync with skipjack tuna indicate that individual size overrides species differentiation.

Yellowfin tunas of greater size often form schools with dolphins. They may also school near oil wells. When they are spawning, these tuna fold their fins into special indentations in the water to make swimming easier and faster. These creatures are very common in the ocean, and their commercial catch accounts for a majority of the canned fish in the U.S. Yellowfin tuna are also among the highest-selling fish in the world.

These species are usually found far offshore, but they can be seen occasionally near shore. They eat baitfish from mid-ocean islands. Under certain conditions, yellowfin tuna from the coast may travel to continental shelves. Researchers conclude that the fish might migrate between open ocean islands in the mid-ocean. So, it is important to observe yellowfin tuna in their natural habitats, as they may associate with drifting items.

Boats

There are many different types of fishing boats used for yellowfin tuna in the offshore waters of North Carolina. Large sea hull charter fishing boats are the king of this game. These prized fish are caught by boat captains who use artificial lures, ballyhoo/seawitch and other rigs. The planer rig is also useful for catching tuna. A sea-hulled yacht is a great choice for your next fishing trip.

Yellowfins are abundant in North Carolina waters. An experienced angler with a Harris sportfisherman 24' can reach them within one hour. Charterboats also have the range to safely access the Gulf Stream, a critical area for catching tuna. Do-it-yourself anglers can reach Gulf Stream using a small boat or a faster craft on calm summer days. They will reach the tuna within a few hours.

Mid-season yellowfin fishing can be very rewarding for offshore fishermen. These tuna can settle into a pattern over several weeks and respond well to repeated chunking. These fish may become frequent visitors to the congregated area from a fishing boat. Offshore fishing enthusiasts love the challenge that comes with trolling for yellowfin, and the excitement of an early blitz. They love the distinctive fighting style characteristic of yellowfin.

Hatteras Island and the Inlet are two of the most sought-after spots for yellowfin Tuna in North Carolina. These areas are best for boat captains who will use ballyhoo or topwater plugs to troll and dangle lures from kites. These waters attract bigeye tuna just once every 10 years.

NMFC's management of yellowfin tuna

The joint management plans of NMFC and IOTC on yellowfin tuna in Atlantic Ocean are based upon the assumption that the species is primarily produced in waters off the Gulf of Guinea. It is also near west-central Africa's tuna nursery. These purse-seine fisheries are designed to target small tunas with fish-attracting devices.

The Indian Ocean's yellowfin-tuna stock has been severely overfished. Catches continue to increase. Scientists warn that within five years, the fishery might collapse. Many prominent food retailers have called for urgent action to protect the Indian Ocean's yellowfin fisheries. A new interim management plan has been proposed by the EU, Maldives, Kenya, and South Africa, in a bid to restore the population.

Since 1989, the United Nations Environmental Program has closely monitored DGN's fishery. In that year, it was identified as a bycatch for marine mammals. As a result, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMF) is now using an observer programme to monitor the fishing industry. Data from the observer programme and other sources (including commercial fishing companies and local governments) are entered into the Pacific Fisheries Information Network, which is administered by the U.S. government. It is distributed to the member agencies and to private individuals.

Monitoring the yellowfin tuna population can be done using both internal and satellite tags. LDWF and NMFC have used satellite tags for monitoring the Gulf of Mexico yellowfin tuna numbers. Satellite tags are used to monitor the lives of tuna. Despite recent increases in satellite tags, some tags were retained in fish for longer than three years.

FAQ

How can I tell if my lures are working?

Look out for movement as you cast your lure into water. If there is movement, your lure is operating properly.

What kind of fishing license do I need?

A fishing license is required if you intend to fish in state waters, i.e. lakes, rivers and bays. Fishing licenses are required by law in every state. If you plan to fish in federal waters (i.e., oceans, Great Lakes, etc. A fishing license is not necessary. However, you will need to check with the authorities before you take any fish home.

What is the maximum amount I can expect to spend on fishing gear

You don't have to spend a lot of money on fishing gear. You can find many affordable options. You could purchase a reel, line and hook for as low as $10. You can also invest in quality rods and reel sets.

How do you bait your hooks?

Attach a piece of meat to your hook to bait it. Then tie the meat around the eye of your hook.

Statistics

About 40 percent of all fish are freshwater species. (takemefishing.org)
Coarse fishing is 100% catch and release these days. (linesonthewater.anglingtrust.net)
For most freshwater species you are most likely to target when first starting out, a reel size of 20 to 30 should be more than enough! (strikeandcatch.com)
Orvis, Simms, and Fishpond have been making some of the best packs and vests for a long time, and it seems like 90% of the anglers around the area use these brands. (troutandsteelhead.net)