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Every angler wishes to go tuna fishing because it is more fun and adventurous than catching any other fish. To catch some big fish, it is essential to know how to find tuna fishing spots. There can be many ways of locating a school of fish. We need to get to the right place first.
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How to Find Tuna Fishing Spots
The various species of tuna are found in the ocean, and most of them are not far from the coast. Yellowfin and Bluefin tuna swim in schools, and you can locate them by the big foam that they create on the surface.
However, these foamers are found in tuna fishing spots in the Atlantic and Pacific waters. You can catch Bluefin tuna in the Atlantic near Nova Scotia, Northern California, Massachusetts, and the Gulf of Mexico. In the south, you can fish for Yellowfin tuna in Louisiana.
Many Pacific and Atlantic anglers have caught giant tuna fish, and if you are planning to go tuna fishing for the first time, the good news is that there are plenty of ways to find and catch tuna that are not swimming close to the surface.
Locating the Right Places
There are many ways to figure out where to lower the bait and set up camp if you want to catch tuna fish. You can start by sailing a few miles into the sea. However, you cannot locate tuna fish swimming a hundred feet below the surface with binoculars.
Online Methods to Find Tuna Fishing Spots
One of the best ways to find the hot spots for tuna fishing is through the Internet. There are numerous apps and public forums where people talk about their experiences, give reviews, and even share tips on how to find tuna fishing spots in specific areas.
We like these forums because you can ask various anglers about a location you have in mind for tuna fishing. New anglers can discuss the right time and fishing gear to make the most of their trip! Anglers discuss the approximate areas off the shores to get to a crowded tuna spot.
Another way to find tuna fishing spots is to use the map applications that ask for a search and then present the best options for you! These locations are not the approximate spot in the water and can only get you the direction you need to set sails and check the compass.
Water Surface Appearance
The water surface appears cloudy and denser in places where freshwater meets saltwater. You might want to get the bait down at this spot because tuna fish lurk around these spots to hunt smaller fish. Instead of the smaller fish, let it be your bait that the tuna comes after!
Using a variety of baitfish like herring, flying fish, and ballyhoo is a good idea as you need the tuna fish to leave all behind and focus on what you are throwing its way! Once the tuna fish is hooked, you will notice a commotion in the water caused by the other fish.
The caught tuna moves aggressively and splashes around to try and break away from the hook. If you plan to fish in the same spot again, wait for the regular activity to prevail. Anglers must know that after tuna fish is caught, the underwater life takes a few hours to return to normal.
Notice the Birds
This tip is most interesting as you use the seabirds as your accurate, precise tuna fish locators! Birds give away the location of tuna fish clearly, and as soon as you see a flock over a spot in the water, you know you are in luck to catch some tuna!
At any time of the day, it can be a challenge to spot a school of fish swimming at a depth of 100 feet or more. Bird signals and clues work best as they lead you to the right spot, and you get tuna fish, hungry enough to rush for the bait you lower into the water.
Shearwaters Signals
Shearwaters and terns are birds that forage for leftover fish in places where tuna fish are feeding. Bluefin tuna swims at a greater depth in the Atlantic Ocean during morning hours. This fish surfaces around mid-day to feed.
Shearwaters wait for the fish that they can feed on, when tuna fish leaves some behind for the birds. When you see shearwaters flock over a particular site in the sea, these birds are at work, and give anglers a clue, which can help them seize the day.
One small test that can ensure success for anglers is to drive up to the spot the shearwaters are circling. The birds can be flying around without any fish in the water, and if the boat drives up to that spot they might fly away. If they return to the same spot, then there is tuna fish in the area.
Tern’s Signals
When tuna fish is not deep in the water, the terns flying above the sea become your guiding star. Bluefin foamers and hungry tuna fish swimming close to the surface are often accompanied by a flock of white terns circling in the air.
The white terns circle in the air to feed off the fish left after tuna fish feeds on them. This activity is an everyday sight in the sea and can tell anglers about the best tuna fishing spots in the water. Anglers can trust the tern’s sharp eyesight more than anglers.
Even if you discuss the best tuna spots on various websites and head out to fish the next day, the spots indicated by terns will be more reliable than the ones that some expert anglers share on public platforms for fishing-related websites.
Where’s the Bait?
Look for nature’s hints in the sea. Wherever there are smaller fish schools, predators will be lurking in the shadows too! Baitfish are found near reefs and seamounts. You can even find these small fish in the warmer waters of the sea.
Once you find these small fish, you can expect to catch Bluefin or Yellowfin tuna swimming nearby. Bait balls are tornadoes of small fish that indicate the presence of tuna fish in the area. If there is bait in the area, there must be tuna swimming near it.
Look For Tuna in Warm Waters
Most pelagic fish swim in cool waters. However, tuna is an exception. Anglers who are wondering how to find tuna fishing spots can look for these giant fish in warm water locations, where the temperature is around 72 to 82 Fahrenheit.
Tuna fish do not like green water and prefer dark, blue ocean waters. However, at the edge of the green and blue, there can be tuna fish around 150 feet deep in the sea! These edges are where tuna fish find their food.
Tuna Fishing at Night
At night, the light is dim, and tuna fish do not suspect invaders in the water. Suppose anglers watch out for all the indicators discussed above and plan a fishing trip at night. The sonar on their boat will keep lighting to show the return of tuna fish immediately after they throw in the bait.
Furthermore, the tackle anglers use at night can be heavier and improve the chance of catching a big fish. The hard-fighting tuna will not be able to resist a snack in the dark hours as the smaller fish moves to shallow waters at night.
The dawn bite is snappier, and tuna fishing can take less time if done during the hours from dusk to dawn. If you are out fishing Yellowfin tuna, the chances of catching one increase when you select the tuna fishing spots at night time.
Rely on Shrimp and Fishing Boats
When a fishing boat is out in the sea, there is quite a lot of chum or cut-up bait that they leave behind. It is wise to stick around these boats and throw them in the hook when tuna comes rushing for the bait.
- The chum left behind by a shrimp boat is an excellent addition to your bait. Add the two and maximize your chance of catching any tuna fish swimming by the spot!
- When the shrimp boat moves out, get into position to catch some big tuna!
- Night time is favorable for tuna fishing in shrimp boat locations as there is plenty of tuna fish in the area, looking for food.
Conclusion
Even when you know the location of tuna fish, it is essential to understand how to find tuna fishing spots. There are numerous ways to locate fish in the sea. If you follow the simple methods mentioned above, you can get closer to catching trophy fish.