Techniques for Landing Tuna

A tuna is a saltwater fish that is known as a fast swimmer, which is why it can be hard to catch. Landing a tuna requires different techniques that you can try out. Since tuna fishing is a deep-water activity, you will need a fast and powerful boat to take you out to sea.

  1. Finding School of Tuna

    • To catch tuna, you first have to chase a school of them with your boat, according to Brag N Release. Finding tuna is not always simple, especially since they move around a lot during any given day. A trick you can use in finding tuna is by following birds that chase tuna to find food for themselves. If the school of tuna happens to be a static one that just stays in place, you can begin fishing by casting your line at the perimeter of the school.

    When Tuna Bite

    • Remember to set the hook of your fishing line hard to match the hard mouths of the tuna. Also remember never to give the tuna a slack line after it has bitten your hook, says Brag N Release. You have to ascertain the direction that the tuna is swimming, and then pull in the other direction as hard as you can. Be aware that your line can go slack. If it does, you should reel very fast. Expect that the tuna may also swim fast in the direction of your boat, according to Captain Rich Antonino, who operates a fishing charter.

    Fighting With the Tuna

    • When you are in a tug-of-war with the tuna, you maintain control as much as you can. The tuna will be pulling against you, and it is designed to travel smoothly in the direction its nose is pointed because it is a hydro-dynamic fish. During a tug-of-war, you want to get its nose to point in a continually decreasing circle to your boat. This is what is known as the tuna's "death circle," which you can manipulate by controlling its nose.

    Harpooning

    • Harpooning is what you go to when the tuna is close to your boat after you have reeled it in closer. Ensure that the line of the harpoon is free. The pectoral fin of the tuna is where you need to thrust your harpoon. When you throw the harpoon, attempt to drive its dart through the fish. Make sure that you do not hit the tuna's belly, because the dart will pull out. Hit the head of the tuna, and the dart will not even penetrate.