We just got back from our annual fall Long Range trip. It was an excellent trip. The weather, the crew, the fishing and the anglers were are wonderful. Skipper Andy Cates put us on fish every day. By the sixth day many of us had had enough. I wish all long range trips went this smoothly.

    This month tips will cover the secrets of tuna fishing at Alijos Rocks. The "ROCKS" usually hold some quality grade of tuna, as 40 to 90 lb. fish. On our trip we were able to get 60 of this size to bite. Not a great score but a decent one. I hooked and landed one the first morning and then saved my energy for the wahoo. So how can one improve his or her chances at hooking these tuna? Here are a few of my tricks.

    First, get a hot bait. Be sure that the bait is very lively. Most of the time the tuna are boat shy at the ROCKS. The hottest bait will swim the best. You may have to soak a bait 2 to 3 hundred yards behind the boat to get hooked up.

    Secondly, fish the gray. Early morning and late afternoon the tuna are more likely to come to the boat. Tuna bite better in low light. Fish from just before dawn to about 9:00 AM and from 3:00PM until dark. If you want tuna fish these hours hard.

    Third, try different hook placements. Most of the time when you are fishing for tuna, you are anchored. The easiest place to hook your bait is sideways through the nose. But that is not the only way to hook them. You can hook your bait in the following places: collar, under the dorsal fin, above the anal fin and even in the breastbone.

    Fourth, make sure you know where your bait is. Keep a slight tension on your line at all times. If there is any slack line, reel it in. You may be in a tangle or your bait may be under the boat. Both are not great place to get bit.

    Fifth, when you do get picked up, set the hook only when the line comes tight. When the tuna takes your bait, just put the reel in gear. Wait for the line to come tight before trying to set the hook. If the line does not come tight, start reeling in your line. The tuna maybe swimming towards the boat. Keep reeling until you get your line tight, then set the hook. Sometime these tuna will swim almost completely back to the boat before it knows it is hooked.

    The next few tips are for fighting the tuna. Use a 2 speed reel. With 40 or 50 lb. line a Shimano TLD 30 II is worth every penny of its cost. If you are lucky enough to get these tuna to bite on 60 or 80 lb. line bring out a Shimano TLD 50 II LRS. Do not try to be "sporting" with these tuna. If given the chance they will hurt you. Tuna at the ROCKS are mean.

    When it comes to rod length, 5.5 or 6 foot rods. Those long rods are great for casting but the worst for pulling on tuna. Roller guides also help in landing the fish. Less friction on the line with rollers, less work for you.

    Finally, pull hard when the fish is at color. Too many fish are lost at color that shouldn't be. I know that at the end of the fight you are worn out, but so is that tuna. Try to keep the tuna's head up and coming to the surface. Do not rest because the tuna will recover its power faster than you. When the tuna is laying on its side and doing circles, drop the reel into low gear and grind him up. If your drag is slipping use the foregrip of your rod and squeeze the line against it for extra drag. If the fish makes a run just lift up your thumb and let it run.

Past Tips

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