Yellowfin fishing can start as early as late May depending on water
temperature. Late June is more typical. Locally, They are most likely to show up
first along the edge of Norfolk, Washington or Poor Man's canyon. Anglers may
find success with a variety of daisy chains, artificial squid, spreader bars,
small bullet shaped lures or rigged baits such as ballyhoo.
I like to fish for them right on the drop from 300 to 600 feet. Most early
season bites that I have experienced have been from 7 or 8 am till about 10 am.
Arriving later is typically a waste this time of year. I like to leave the dock
about 4:30 for this early season fishing.
Preferred lures include spreader bars, daisy chains of artificial squid and
the basic ballyhoo/sea witch or ballyhoo/feather jig combinations. Trolling
speeds are usualy 5.5 - 7 knots, depending on the boat and sea condtions.
One very important note on yellowfin fishing is the use of a long center line
rig. Most anglers prefer to run a large boone bird with several vinyl squid
trailing, followed by a green machine, back as far as possible on the center
line. This can be 300 or more feet back depending on the boat, reel, weather,
traffic, and the wishes of the crew. This rig can be absolutely deadly at times
and has probably accounted for more yellowfin trolled of the waters of Virginia
than all other rigs combined.
By July, yellowfin can be chunked as well as trolled and may be anywhere from
inside the 20 fathom line out to 1000 fathoms. Often they will appear in 30
fathoms in mid summer. Finding pods of bait is usually the key to success in
catching yellowfin. I also push to be on the fish early as mentioned before.
Finding mid season yellowfin working on bait can be very rewarding as the
fish will sometimes setup a summer pattern and be consistant for several weeks.
As the season progresses, the fish may also respond to repeated chunking and
become regular feeders at a site such as the 30 fathom line or the lumpy bottom.
Other years, the fish constantly appear and vanish without any regularity. This
can wear on the nerves of the captain and crew.
The challenge of trolling for yellowfin, the thrill of the early morning
blitz and the unique fight of these fish is very rewarding to me in spite of the
times that I go home frustrated and empty handed.
Fishing for Bluefin Tuna
Trolling for Tuna
Daisy chains,
spreader bars and other rigs for tuna fishing
Offshore fishing using spreader bars
Ballyhoo rigs
Cleaning Tuna
Seafood
Recipes
Fishing Reports
Saltwater Fishing
Fishing Techniques
GPS Coordinates