When towing lures around for marlin etc whats the best setup to catch a big tuna should any come along. Normally have 2 rods out for marlin. and a couple small rods up short with tiny lures for albies/skippies etc
Do large tuna go for marlin lures or should I have a couple rods out with tuna lures also? Where is best to position the tuna lures? in close or way out the back? also a few lure recommendations would be great.

I'd heard our allocation was 30 this year!! What you're doing keenas is along the right track. You could swap a skippy lure for a Rapala/ cedar plug or sub-surface minnow or swap a marlin lure for a bullet lure like a Legend  Unicorn (which won't harm your marlin chances) or large Zuker grass skirt in zuchini.

Hi Mate

mostly by catch on the marlin lures north of Barrier IS.

obald wrote: Don't waste your time, there aren't any. Seven yellow fin and nine big eye are sent to NZ in December each year and once they've been caught that's your lot. NZ's issue will be reduced next year.

David,
 I am sure you started somewhere on this forum, the man asked a simple question he will probably never ask any more with the answer you gave, I am a little disappointed.

Keenasmustard,

there are plenty of Tuna out there it is a little hard to find them though, you could try running a Legend Enki shell size 12 but they are as rare as hens teeth to find, and the importer has none.

When running lures for Marlin you do not have to run large ones as the theory of big bait big fish does not work on Marlin, sometimes the smaller the better so the Marlin can take it in one swipe of the mouth, so therefore small lures can catch both Marlin and Tuna.

However Tuna like bullets and jet heads in the colour full range's the one's I caught in Fiji where on a bullet and a jet both where caught trawling for marlin

Blue Asparagus wrote: saw a hell tuna work up a couple of weeks back off the gardens but moved to fast for me to stay with.

That's why the island boys travel so fast when trawling

You forgot the highly experienced HOOF as well Jaapie. It was a pleasure fishing with you guys, even the tuna didnt play ball.

Kezza wrote: wanabe wrote: there are plenty of Tuna out there it is a little hard to find them though You really really think so do you? regardless of scientific data about tuna biomass being on a steady decline take a look at the results from the last 20 years of the once great Whakatane "Tuna" Tournament of which there were NO yellowfin or other large tunas caught this year - where in recent history it was not uncommon to see 150-200 odd put across the scales daily....take ya rose tinted glasses off Wanabe!!! and while you are doing that read the books: TUNA - A LOVE STORY and THE EMPTY OCEAN by Richard Ellis. Sorry but that was a completely moronic statement to make.

got a photo of the 150?

I was fishing in one of the premier YFT hotspots around the world and we caught one that may have hit 300 had we not been bothered about quality of the meat and cut it on board. I would love to see a pic of one from the south pacific though. I've seen a 350+ fish go airborne on a kite bait in one hell of a detonation but unfortunately no hook up.