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How to fish for Yellowfin Tuna

The Yellowfin Tuna is found in open waters of tropical and subtropical seas worldwide. It is an epipelagic fish ranging in the top 330 feet of the water column. Yellowfin Tuna tend to school with fish of the same size, including other species of tuna, and larger fish. They are often seen with dolphins, porpoises, whales and whale sharks. Yellowfin Tuna can grow to several hundred pounds but most angler caught Yellowfin are a hundred pounds or less. The Yellowfin Tunas diet is largely dependant on what is available but includes small fish such as the flyingfish. The Yellowfin also feeds on squid and crustaceans.
Chumming and chunking (throwing out bits of bait into the chum slick) while trolling for Yellowfin Tuna is the primary method used by anglers. Trolling for Yellowfin involves creating a flashy presentation of multiple lures trolled in the boat wake while moving along at 7 to 8 knots. Single hook lures with plastic skirts are a common offering and chains or spreader bars of lures are an option to increase the visual attraction. Green is a popular color for Yellowfin Tuna. 
The tackle setup is basic, but heavy big reels with lots of line are essential. Many anglers use 50's spooled with 80 pound test line with 4 to 5 feet of 100 pound fluorocarbon leader, an 80-pound swivel and a 9/0 short shank Mustad offshore hook. Set the drags at about 24 pounds then once a Yellowfin is hooked increase the drag another 25 percent and begin to pump and lift.

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