jippie98

Fellow Members,
I am looking for a little advice. I fish out of Portland and started chasing Tuna last year. I trolled 2 spreader bars and 2 xraps below. Not a single take. I tried liveling as well without a singe take. I currently have 4 50 weight outfits and 1 xh spinning outfit for casting 2 them. I was looking at outriggers this spring for my boat...Will they increase my chances that much that they are worth the $$$. I have also considered use a Kite to liveline...a popular method and very productive one in 2009.
I completly understand that tuna fishing is very difficult especially in Southern Maine. Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated...Thanks and tight lines!!

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vcinri

Jippie.

I would recommend trying different lures and different trolling distances behind the boat. Outriggers will allow more rods out and a better presentation of the spread. We have had some runs of smaller fish here in RI the past few seasons, fish to 80 lbs or so. Different color Cedar jigs, Green machines, Hex heads, Sluggo's, etc.. usually work. Some swear by different colors on different days. Some days they just don't want to hear anything. Don't be afraid to experiment with colors and lures and you may find the right combination for that day. Keep trying and it will come together.

Good Luck,
VC

BigBen72

The real question is how many trips do you have in? Outriggers are key in my option if you are trolling with outboards. The post above has a great point, it is not just what you are trolling but how you are trolling it. Distance, speed and clean water all need to come in to question when you are not getting bites. The other key for your success is go to semminars this winter and spring Saco Bay Tackle has some and there are some at the maine boat show at the civic center that would be really informative. Tuna fishing out of portland is diffcult because everyone is pretty lock jawed about where the fsh are during a given time the tackle shops are your best source to have a guess on location.. When in Doubt troll green machines they seem to get bites every year.

jippie98

I go at least once a week in July-Sep when the weather permits....I have gone to Saca Bay seminars for the last 2 years and they have been awesome. I just cant seem to find the right spot and presentation....Thats why I started looking at outriggers. The water my spreader bars are in is not clear...definitly some prop wash. Thanks for the help!!

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allwhet

Have you seen any tuna while out?

rickq

all of the above will help. I think being in a network of guys that are fishing for them will increase your odds and will give you the biggest value. you hope to gain from them is location because like reality location is almost everything. You must know the drop offs where the typically hold and don't forget these fish can go 30 miles an hour and they don't hang around if there isnt any bait in the water. These are musts for tuna fishing note that outriggers is not 1 of them.

Sonar 600-1kw
bathometric charts showing drop offs
4-6kw open array radar and your ability to adjust gain so that you can see birds working on the surface.

Birds will tell you where the fish are other than that you ight as well go out there and drop a hook in the anywhere and Tuna WISH.

also seeing whales and or dolphins can be a good sign too.

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A quote by Zane Grey after Big Game Fishing.
"I am tired, my arms ache,my head boils, my feet are cold but I am not aware of any weakness"
Cabo 31

CMP

I have an outrigger set-up that works well on boats like yours-New in the box, ready to rig...

CMP

http://www.thehulltruth.com/fishing-...oat-stuff.html

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BigBen72

Buy them!! You need riggers.

CMP

I've used this set-up on several center consoles. A real value that works, giving you a very effective spread...

CMP

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jippie98

I picked up a radar this year and I usaully follow the whales. I have seen them but they never seem to looking for what I am offering. My best chance last year was ruined by lobster pots....didnt even try because they were hitting a school of pots. Trolled and casted on the outskirts but nothing. Should I invest in a kite set-up instead of outriggers? It seems that kites worked almost better last year.

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CMP

Kites are great if yer in the zone and have live bait. That said, you need both...

CMP

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CornerOffice

my .02 is time OTW is going to get you fish, not spending $$ on "everything" you might need.
I have not put my riggers on my boat for 2 years and dont have kites... I as a rec guy have 40+ Tuna's in 2 years. Not saying riggers and kites dont work cuz I know a lot of guys that use them successfully.
I found a good network of friends and ability to trailer where the fish are has helped me get tight. I fish from the Fingers on Jefferys to PHB off the cape.
good luck, have fun and see you OTW!

gerg

Something else you might consider are upriggers. Hard to describe, but you can find discussions here in the archives.

They allow you to troll two rods out of the same holder, with one hanging free and the other in the standard rodholder orientation.

I've used them on my old Parker 25 and it allowed me to run two more lines without tangles. two stay in close like flatlines and two go back slightly further into clean water.

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Terry Jason 35, Yanmar 370 hp, Lots of fun at a leisurely pace

taJon

welcome to the sickness. Hello, My name is tajon and I'm a tunaholic.

Pussy

They call me Pussy I am a tunaholic