Home Forums Fishing Saltwater Yellow fin any tips?

I'm headed to the east cape the 18th, this is my 1st trip to Mexico! I hope to get the cool fish over with (Marlin) and get into tuna and durado as soon as I can. I'd like to get any tips that will help when we fine them. thanks

Got Lost:

Not sure I understand where your are fishing nor how.

Is it East Cape Baja California ?

Are you going with a charter boat or by yourself in a private boat.

I fished out of Mazatlan years ago for Marlin. We simply trolled "yammadors" - lures behind the boat until something struck.

Tuna can be fished a couple of ways, trolling or chumming. There are school tuna and bigger ones. If you find a school hold them with lots of chum. Use chunking, live bait cut up. Tuna is a fish that is something to die for as a delicious meal with the right cooking and sauces.


Dorados, dolphin, Mahimahi are school fish. Once you catch one leave it on a hook off the end of the boat. It will try to return to the school. Use live baits, spoons and plugs cast into the school. I have had them swim up to the boat following a hooked fish, light tackle but a bull dorado can go 50 pounds. They are absolutely delicious eating.

You will need local advice to learn where to go if fishing without a guide. If you go with a charter captain he will surely set you up and provide all of the information you will need. I have found that charter captains are truly phenomenol. They really know their stuff.

If you are a novice, keep your rod tip up high always. Never give the fish any slack. Set your drag so the fish can "run" without breaking the line. The fight can go on from a few minutes to a couple of hours or more. You'll need a fighting chair for big fish and a harness for 100 pounders.

The sun will crisp you. Cover up. Use plenty of sunscreen. Sun glasses. Wear a fishermans cap with a bill in front and back. If you go out consecutive days you will be tired, tired, tired from fighting fish and fighting the rocking boat all day long in the hot beating down sun.

This is not something people do to relax <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

But it's absolutely exhilerating and very rewarding fun.

Bill Tibbe

Get Lost,
I fish the area twice a year out of LaPaz plus some long range fishing for YFT....

Most will be caught on live bait or bait chunks.....take quality HD Live Bait hooks from #1 through 6/0 depending on how heavy your tackle is.....a couple small feather jigs [tuna clone type] and a medium cedar plug plus a CD-18 Rapala....usually we always got for purple colors if limiting ourselves. Usually a clear mono or even fluorocarbon for most tuna areas unless your resort advises that green water has moved in, then I use Maxima Ultra Green. If limiting my gear, I take a 40 pound rig and a 60 pound rig.....tuna are smart and line shy....after that they kick your butt..... experienced captains usually agree that YFT are the toughest fish out there. It doesn't hurt to have a few 1 ounce rubber core sinkers along.....

Who are you fishing with?
Panga or cruiser.....
Check the Baja section on the AllCoast website.

It will be warm.....sunscreen and drinking water....mucho!

Good fishing!

I be on a charter out of Punta Colorada, 60 mile NE of Cabo San Lucas I'm booked on a cruser for 5 day's. the main thing I looking for is technique for bait pressintation after they fine the fish.

you have not been offshore much have you? As stated above there are 2 ways to catch tuna , on the chunk or on the troll. There is no magic technique that is gonna make them jump on the hook , it is a combination of very small intimate details that make it all happen, water clarity ,line size , line type, current , prodominant bait , water temp or temp breaks, bait in the water, the bait on the boat just to name a few. Rod Holder was the best dam tuna fisherman that ever lived and he still is to this day , I know he has set the hook on more fish on my boat than anyone, even me. Catching tuna is an art , its not like fishing for anything else you have ever done. Do yourself a favor and do whetever your captian tells you to do. Not trying to be a smart arse , but the only way to be a good tuna fisherman to go to the grounds as much as you can , because everyday is a learning experience.

Other than 3 trips to Homer AK for Halibut / Salmon, I'm new to saltwater. what you call bait we call keepers here. I'm going down with what is mainly a bunch of Wyo. G&F employees. I will listen to the skipper I know it is a matter of pride on how many flag's they come in with so I'll be a good boy and listen. The cruiser I'm on is the Marlin.

gotlost,
Sorry about the error with your name on the previous post.

I'm very familiar with your area and techniques. The Cruiser Capitans will be on teh move primarily......trolling "grande feathers" for marlin but tuna will also hit these. Capitan will be watching for porpoise schools as they often team up with the tuna and work bait from top and bottom etc...It's doubtful if cruisers will set up on bait for tuna unless several boats have chummed up a feeding frenzy.....

YFT are smart......line shy and boat shy.....

How many fishermen to a boat?

This will not resemble halibut or salmon out of Homer....now will the weather.

Please PM me if you wish.....Vernesto

Thanks for all the info, In 24 hours I'll be there, hope you all have a good week I know I will!

If you signed off already - hope you had a good trip. VernAk gave you good advice, but I suggest taking some smaller live bait hooks (#2-#4) than suggested. Most of the tuna fishing at East Cape is done with live bait and sometimes the bait are quite small. I've caught 90+ pounders out of acre sized boils that would only hit on 25# fluorocarbon leaders and #2 hooks. Have a great time!

Had a great time the stripped Marlin were in and of 55 people all but 5 had marlin up to the boat. This YFT was may prize of the trip, It's not a monster but on 25 pound test with a medium wieght rod I could not be happier.

Thanks again ,