Jdizzle

With all this live bait for tuna talkand pogies hard to get somtimes, I have heard lots of old salts talk about using whiting back in the day... how do I catch them, sabiki rigs? and what depth of water and do I just jig it on the bottom like cod? where do I get them on the bank? what seasons?

casco_schooner

The last Giant I caught was on a whiting 10 years ago, we were inside jefferies and were just getting on the ball. I started with the bait rod caught a whiting on a sabiki jigging on the bottom in about 200 feet hooked him through the back and sent him right back down, the tuna rod went off
before the engine was even shut down 800lb fish we were back at the dock before 9:00 AM

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1990 33' Egg Harbor
vessel name: "Bonny June" (ch. 9/69)

Mijoy2

I had a similiar experience. I had just anchored up in the middle of a fleet that was not all that happy to see me at about 11AM (yeah late start). I immediately had my firend jig up some whiting. The first one he caught I put a hook in, through the whiting over the side and began to pace out line to tie up a balloon when a fish took it. I looked at my friend and said "probably a bluefish but we will find out ina sec". I threw the clicker on my "black beauty" (117 senator), and it became obvious it was not a bluefish.

Only my story does not have a happy ending. 6 hours later the fish was off. The hook came in and the flouro-leader was basically unscathed. Possibly foul hooked. Inexperience. I am sure,, contributed to my loosing this fish. However I have caught a giant since that time (around 350lbs) and it was like pullinig in a flounder compared to the monster I lost.

Anyway, I feel real old. "Oldtimers" use to use whiting??? I remember when using whiting was a new idea, and that does not seem all that long ago. Boy time flies. I am not sure if catching whiting just grew out of style or if they became more difficult to come by. I used to catch them just inside of the area of the SW corner. Maybe in 180-210 feet or so. Right on the edge of the bank but on the deep. Using sabikis and spiining rod.

PtJudeRI

I have used whiting as well, but I scooped up the dead bycatch that the draggers were tossing over the side. Hooked em and drifted them down in the water column as they were hauling back. Works like a charm. Find the draggers, find the tuna.

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Lets have a Sexy Party! 38 Henriques FB 2000 ~ 17 Montauk 1978

Raider Ron

I've been jigging up whiting where I'm fishing !

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Capt. Raider Ronnie
Black Hull Charters
Team Ave Maria

Reel-Life

Had to bring this back to the top.
I have a couple of questions...
Why do tuna like whiting?
Aren't whiting bottom fish?
Do tuna feed at the bottom?

I jigged a few of these up easily (as i did not have any bunker).
When hooked through the dorsal/back they did not do well (mostly floated).
When hooked in the mouth/nose they swam down about 20 feet and just sat there without any lively movement.
needless to say no tuna last weekend.
Am I doing this right?
Should I weight them and send them down deep where they belong?
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Craig

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2007 May-Craft 20' CC 150 Etec

Reel-Life

Anyone have any answers for my Whiting questions?

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2007 May-Craft 20' CC 150 Etec

boot

Put weight to them and send them down 120 ft.They're not real lively and that's why tuna love them,especially big ones,easy meal with little effort.

Reel-Life

Thanks Boot

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2007 May-Craft 20' CC 150 Etec

HIGHTIMES

No- tuna only feed on the surface.

casco_schooner

I have also but weight on them and dropped them down we usually are fishing in 200' and drop them down 120+

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1990 33' Egg Harbor
vessel name: "Bonny June" (ch. 9/69)

jbg108

If you fish them too close to the bottom you'll most likely be fishing a hook baited with Whiting lips.

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Tunascapes

Sounds like a dogfish candy to me. Good luck with that.