Tuna Fishing Q&A with Captain Phil Howarth

Last year the crew from the Goose Hummock Shop in Orleans released an Intro to Tuna Fishing video on their YouTube channel.

They then released another video which I feel will be very helpful for anyone interested in targeting tuna during the upcoming 2022 fishing season.

Click play above to watch this extensive 30 minute Q&A video with captain Phil, as he answers many of the most common tuna fishing questions about gear, tackle, technique and more.

Topics covered in this video include:

01:18 - spinning setups for tuna fishing from a center console
03:00 - tips for landing big tuna in a boat without a tuna door
04:40 - how big of a boat do you need for tuna fishing
05:40 - trolling in a boat with limited rod holders
07:15 - trolling squid bars
09:00 - areas to fish for tuna off Cape Cod based on time of the year
10:08 - tuna migration patterns
11:48 - the importance of swimming a tuna after catching it
14:08 - best way to get into run and gun fishing
15:38 - how to find tuna ontop
16:14 - how to retrieve the RonZ soft plastic
17:42 - best butterfish imitation
19:24 - Phil's favorite tuna baits and lures
21:10 - what to use when you don't know what the tuna are feeding on
21:35 - terminal tackle for giant bluefin tuna in Cape Cod Bay
22:28 - hook sizes, leader lengths, more terminal tackle advice
24:30 - wind on leaders vs. FG knots
25:22 - the difference between hollow core and braid
26:08 - the best way to rig a ballyhoo
26:30 - trolling deep divers for tuna
27:14 - the importance of stretching fluorocarbon
27:49 - what to do immediately after a tuna takes a balloon bait
28:58 - how to avoid pulling a hook

Tackle and equipment mentioned in this video:

Shimano Saragosa 20000 and 14000 spinning reels (for smaller fish)
Shimano Stella 20000 and Daiwa Dogfight spinning reels (for bigger fish)
Van Staal 325 spinning rod
130 and 80 class reels (for big fish)
Tracker bars for trolling
Squid bars
Praticko big game grip
RonZ soft plastics
Proteus by Strategic Angler (for imitating butterfish)
Strategic Angler sinking Espada in halfbeak pattern
230lb Spro swivels
Jinkai crimpers and long crimps
Seagur blue label and premier leader in 150-220lb
9/0-10/0 ringed Charlie Brown hooks
Rigging bands (large) rigging bands (small
Basil wind on leader
Ballyhoo rigs
Nomad DTX, Yo-Zuri, and big C30 deep divers for trolling

Tight lines!

Have a question or comment?

Please click here to visit the Goose Hummock's YouTube Channel, where you can post a comment and get an answer from Team Goose.

About the author

Ryan Collins

I'm fortunate to have grown up on the beach, and I've been fishing since kindergarten. I have great family, friends and fishing experiences to be thankful for. Just being out there is enough-catching fish is just a bonus!

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