Wind: 15-20mph from the northwest
Tidal Stage: 3 hours after low tide
Bait: Live mackerel​
Rod Use: Custom 130 class long soft tip rod from CMS Tackle in New Bedford
Reel Used: Penn International 130
3 Tips Regarding Tackle & Equipment:​
- Pay attention to detail
- Be 100% perfect with your rigging every single time
- Don't get lazy with proper bait presentation, cleaning leaders etc. even if it's been a long day with zero action - because you never know when a tuna will hit and you need to be 100% ready and prepared
3 Tips For Safely Fighting & Landing Tuna:
- Bring a friend - don't tuna fish solo
- Plan ahead of time who will throw the harpoon, gaff the fish and secure the tail rope
- Communicate effectively
Getting The Tuna Onboardfrom Jason Mazzola
Over the past few years I've been using an "old school" method for sliding tuna onboard the deck of my boat. It is called a teeter board or a tuna slideboard. I use a winch to pull the fish up the board, and then I allow gravity to do the rest. This is similar to hanging a block and tackle off the t-top of a center console, however the center of gravity is lower when using the tuna slide off the widest part of the bow - thus reducing the chances of capsizing the boat.
Procedure for icing/preparing tuna:
- Make sure the good side of the fish (not the harpooned side) is facing up
- Make a 2-3 inch incision in the anus
- Stick a finger or knife into the anus and sever the intestinal connections
- Remove the gill plate from the side of the fish that is facing up, trim around the gills and then pull the gills out
- Put a hose in the anus and pump all the organs out through the mouth of the fish
- Clean out the entire core of the fish and pack the core with ice
- Wet the outside of the fish and wrap the fish in rice paper (which you can get from offshore tackle shops) and then pack the outside with ice
- Use insulation bubble foam (available from offshore tackle store or Home Depot) and wrap the fish up with ice as tight as you can