Best Bait for Yellowfin Tuna [2024 Review]

Catching a big yellowfin tuna is an offshore fisherman’s dream. Yellowfin tuna is one of the most commonly caught offshore game fish. They are hard to catch and if you’re planning to catch one you should use the best bait for yellowfin tuna.

My Top Yellowfin Tuna Bait Reccomendations

Yellowfin tuna are strong fighters. They have so much strength and stamina that you need the best fishing gear to help you catch one. That includes the bait you need for tuna. 

For that, I compiled a list of some of the best baits for yellowfin tuna I can find. These baits will increase your chance of catching tuna and it comes down to your skill and endurance fighting over the tuna’s physical prowess.

Best Overall Bait for Yellowfin Tuna: Rapala X-Rap Magnum Fishing Lures

The Rapala X-Rap Magnum Fishing Lures or X-Rap Magnum for short almost has everything you need for tuna fishing. The X-Rap Magnum based its color and design on the Rapala plugs.

It also incorporated new depths with a depth-specific diving lip. This allows the X-Rap Magnum to be trolled at depths of 10, 15, 20, and 30 feet. It’s the only bait for tuna on this list that you can adjust the depth accurately.

It has a spooled 50-pound braid to help get down to the depth you want. It also has trolling speeds between 3 to 3 ½ knots.

The X-Rap Magnum has translucent color patterns. What’s great about the X-Rap Magnum Fishing Lures is that you have different options to choose from.  There are different fake fish lures to choose from so you can decide which is best for fishing yellowfin tuna.

However, much like the hook from Goture Lead Vertical Jigs Saltwater Artificial Bait Boat Fishing Lures, the hook is somewhat decent. I recommend replacing it with better and higher quality if you plan on catching a very large yellowfin tuna.

Overall, it has everything you need for yellowfin tuna fishing except for the okay hooks. It’s durable and can be used again for a long time.

Pros

• Consistent bait that even the most cunning yellowfin tunas get caught in it
• Versatile options if you plan on catching other fish aside from yellowfin tuna
• Depth-specific diving lip so you are sure how deep your bait is

Cons

• Hooks aren’t good enough for catching large yellowfin tunas
• Only comes with one bait

Best Glow in the Dark Bait for Yellowfin Tuna: Calissa Offshore Tackle Single Hook Fast Fall Jig Glow Butterfly

If you plan on catching yellowfin tuna at night, I suggest getting the Calissa Offshore Tackle Single Hook Fast Fall Jig Glow Butterfly as your bait. It glows in the dark and will be perfect for attracting yellowfin tunas.

It is commonly known that the best time to fish for yellowfin tuna is between dusk and dawn. Hence, getting a glowing bait like the Calissa Offshore Tackle will help attract yellowfin tunas in the dark. It’s the only bait in this list with distinct glow-in-the-dark features.

The Calissa Offshore Tackle is made of strong lead alloy. It is extremely durable and is hard to dent or damage. Hence, it can be reused again and again even when large yellowfin tunas take a bite on it.

Compared to the Rapala X-Rap Magnum Fishing Lures, the hook of the Calissa Offshore Tackle is impressive. For starters, it’s big. Removing fish from the hook is smooth and comfortable. It also does not easily rust or come off.

The only downside for this bait is that the size could have been a bit bigger. It’s also only better at night compared to tuna fishing at day.

Overall, the Calissa Offshore Tackle easily beats the Rapala X-Rap Magnum Fishing Lures if you plan fishing for yellowfin tuna at night thanks to its glow-in-the-dark features.

Pros

• Suitable for fishing at night with its glowing properties
• Hook is suitable for yellowfin tuna and does not need replacement
• Durable design with strong lead alloy as material

Cons

• Size is a bit small if you want larger yellowfin tuna
• Only comes with one bait

Best Yellowfin Tuna Bait Set: Goture Lead Vertical Jigs Saltwater Artificial Bait Boat Fishing Lures

If you want a number of baits to choose from, the Goture Lead Vertical Jigs Saltwater Artificial Bait Boat Fishing Lures is your best option. In fact, it’s the only product that comes with 2 or more baits on this list.

These baits exterior is made out of water ripple hot stamping foil with multi-layer radium coating reflection effect. This makes the bait always high with brightness and reflection making it attractive to yellowfin tunas.

The swim action of each bait is natural and is great for attracting yellowfin tunas. It might even attract other species of fish.

The material used for making the bait is lead and it is fully constructed with lead. It can withstand most damages from large fish predators so it is great for fishing yellowfin tuna. It also contains stainless steel wire for better durability.

Although not as good as the Rapala X-Rap Magnum or Calissa Offshore Tackle, this yellowfin tuna bait set is still great for catching yellowfin tuna. It seems to attract fish really well and will attract other types of fish.

It might not have the depth adjustment of the X-Rap magnum or the glowing properties of the Calissa Offshore tackle, yet they are still solid for catching fish and most people have great feedback about them.

Pros

• Comes in a set so you have a variety of baits to choose from
• Durable lead construction so you can reuse for a long time
• Swim action is natural and is great for attracting other fish

Cons

• High attraction with other fish means a bite might not be exactly the yellowfin tuna you’re hoping to catch
• Solid and reliable build quality just not on par with the other baits on the list

Features to Consider for Yellowfin Tuna Bait

Yellowfin tuna, although a commonly hunted fish, can still be elusive to catch. Hence, you need bait to help you secure the tuna as you try to catch it. Here are some features that you should consider for the bait when out hunting for yellowfin tuna.

Style of Fishing

Having live bait or a bait that can be used for all styles of fishing yellowfin tuna would be helpful. However, trolling is generally the best way to catch one according to most fishermen. So it’s better if you stick with it.

Hence, it would be great if the bait is excellent for trolling. Fortunately, all three from my list have shown excellent results when used in trolling and had a lot of bites and catches.

If I was to choose, the Rapala X-Rap Magnum Fishing Lures would be your best option if you want to catch tuna. The Goture Lead Fishing Lures would be a great alternative if you want various options.

Attractiveness of Bait

An attractive live bait will shorten the time you need to wait for that bite. Hence you need bait with attractive features. Yellowfin tunas are attracted to bright and reflective fish. Baitfish splashing also seemed to attract yellowfin tunas.

For that, the Calissa Offshore Tackle easily is your best option if you are offshore fishing yellowfin tuna between dusk and dawn. If you can only fish during the daytime, then the Goture Lead Fishing Lures give you more variety and brighter colors for attracting big yellowfin tuna.

Target Size of Yellowfin Tuna

If you plan on catching large yellowfin tuna, you want a bait that is able to absorb and withstand all thrashing it does when it takes a bite of the bait. Otherwise, you will end up with some damage on the bait, and can’t be reused again.

All of the baits on this list have excellent durability. However, the Rapala X-Rap Magnum Fishing Lures have better quality in durability. It is also suited for catching large yellowfin tunas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Attract Yellowfin Tuna?

You can attract yellowfin tuna with trolling or bait anglers. For slow trolling, you can use artificial baits or live baits, tuna feathers, small pelagic crabs, small squids, ballyhoo fish, and strip baits. For the larger fish, use pacific mackerel. You must use bait that can survive hours in the tuna tubes and can be bridled with a circle hook.

What Do Yellowfin Tuna Eat?

Adult yellowfin tunas eat fish, squid, small pelagic crabs, and crustaceans. They are close to the top of the ocean food chain. However, they can also be preyed on by dolphins, birds,  and other predators during their larval and juvenile stages.

How Do You Catch Yellowfin Tuna in the Gulf of Mexico?

The most popular way to catch yellowfin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico and the pacific coast are live baiting, trolling, kite fishing, and chunking. As long as you have excellent bait, you can get a bite from a yellowfin tuna. While chunking, anchor your boat and throw chunks of cut bait overboard. When you see a flock of birds, push bait to the water surface to help make Yellowfin tuna more visible

Conclusion

Getting the best bait for yellowfin tuna fishing can help you make the most of your fishing skills. Most types of yellowfin tuna fishing focus on what type of artificial or live bait you use. Therefore, getting the best bait will increase your chances of landing that catch.