NWWC TUNA REPORT: Light-tackle puts the "Woo hoo" back in tuna!
NEW July 21, 2009 / 4:40 p.m

GARIBALDI, Ore. - Light-tackle fishing is a way to really start having fun when albacore are on the bite. 

When you’ve had enough long, hard days on the water – made even longer by a marathon at the fish-cleaning station – pick up a spinning rod and start having some fun again. 

You’re not going to put anywhere near the number of fish in the boat as you did trolling clones, cedar plugs and X-Raps simply because of the length of time it takes to bring an albacore to gaff, but you’ll have much more fun!

Swimbaits: A swimbait is simply a soft plastic lure that resembles a baitfish. It’s nothing more exocit than a life-size copy of the baitfish albacore are currently feeding on. 

Fish Trap and Berkley Powerbait Saltwater 5-inch Swim Shad are two of the best swimbaits on the market for Pacific Northwest albacore.

“Some days albacore are feeding so aggressively that you could throw anything at them and they will bite it,” says Del Stephens with Tuna Dog Offshore. “Other days they can be very finicky.  To get consistent action, you need to match the hatch. Once you have a fish on deck, look inside of the tuna to see what they’ve been feeding on.”

Albacore are voracious feeders: studies have shown that they’ll feed on anything they can get their teeth on, but they do focus on a handful of specific baits off the Oregon coastline.

“The five top feed found in albacore are mid-water shrimp, anchovy, squid, blue aantern fish and sauri,” Stephens says. “So it’s good to have baits that match the color and size of their feed.”

Running and Gunning: This means you’re on the hunt for schools of feeding tuna.  Station crewmembers on all sides of the boat and simply drive around at a comfortable speed looking for feeding albacore.

“Feeding albacore can be spotted from quite a distance by looking for birds diving on bait that the albacore have schooled up on the surface,” Stephens says. 

When feeding albacore have been spotted, run directly at them while all anglers grab a rod with a swimbait and prepare to cast. 

“You’ll want to run right at the fish at a steady speed and turn off the motor only when you are sure you will arrive within casting distance,” Stephens says. “As soon as the boat is turned off, start casting. Try to sneak up and get close to the feeding albacore without putting the fish down.” 

If you’re fighting multiple fish, try to keep one fish in the water at all times: this should keep the school of albacore close to your boat.

“This will allow you to continue to catch multiple fish off of the same stop,” Stephens says.

Gearing up: Using a spinning rod and reel is one of the easiest ways to get into light tackle albacore. Your basic light-tackle gear list should include:

• Rod: Start with a 6 ½- to 7 ½-foot rod rated 15 to 30 pounds, and a spinning reel capable of holding 100 yards of 20-pound monofilament. My personal favorite rod for casting to feeding albacore is a G. Loomis PSR84-20SSU (a 7-foot rod rated for 15- to 25-pound test).
• Line: You can use 20- to 25-pound monofilament or you can switch to a braided line in 50-pound with a 4-foot monofilament “top shot” between the braid and the swimbait. 

Twisted sister: When fighting a fish with a spinning combo, remember not to reel when you cannot make up any ground with the fish – this is what creates line twist.  Instead pump your rod just like you would with a casting reel. 

If you do get some line twist with a spinning combo, cut your swim bait off and let the line trail behind the boat as you motor in search of more feeding fish.  After a couple of minutes, spool your line back on your reel and retie your swimbait.

-Andy Schneider