2025 Tuna and Exotics
- Thread starter Evan B
- Start date
I was fishing out of Newport for halibut/coho/lings yesterday. There was a bit of chatter about tuna, but no fish. Mike from Shake n Bake (out of Ilwaco) sent me a text saying some boats went from there and Garibaldi yesterday and found perfect water, but no albacore up here yet. I think tuna season will be underway after next week's wind simmers down.
what about the Penn Spinfisher V ? i bought one a couple yrs ago, with the plan to take it out on a tuna trip, but never happened. seems to be a robust reel
Good reel. The Trevala is a rod I was mentioning. Any Penn saltwater model in 5000-6000 size is dialed. I like those and the Shimano Saragosas and Spheros
In my experience, the Penn Battles don't hold up to corrosion very long. Keep in mind, I'm lazy and don't service them often. Rinse them well after any salt use. The Spinfisher series are better in that respect, but are rather heavy to jig all day with. I am also a fan of the Saragossa and Spheros in 6000 size.
For a budget spinning reel, the Diawa BG 4500 isn't bad. I got three seasons on a couple so far. The sizing is weird on these hence 4500. I transferred my braid line (flip the worn color) from Saragossa 6000 to the 4500 BG and capacity was about the same.
Seeking some advice on the fly line grain to be paired with a 12WT rod.
I have looked at the lines Nick recommends in his article on Albacore gear (Orvis Depth Charge, Rio Leviathan, and Airflow Depthfinder Big Game), but I am uncertain which grain to get (was guessing in the 450-550 range).
Thanks!
I have looked at the lines Nick recommends in his article on Albacore gear (Orvis Depth Charge, Rio Leviathan, and Airflow Depthfinder Big Game), but I am uncertain which grain to get (was guessing in the 450-550 range).
Thanks!
It's not really that critical. Any of them will work. I'd lean toward the heavier side, like the 550gr though. Just because you won't exactly always have all the room in the world to throw an epic back cast.
A lot of us are using 600 or 700 grain lines but I had success with that lower range before I got a new line. They cast about the same (it's a shooting head type cast) but I didn't want to be wondering if I'd have caught another fish or two or 5 if I had a heavier sinking head. Here is another option: https://www.cortlandline.com/products/50-series-heavy-sink
700 appears to be gone but I just got a 500.
@Nick Clayton I heard a rumor 44 tuna were caught about 50mi NW of Ilwaco from a crew you may be familiar with. Sound about right?
Thanks for the tip. I’ve been using the Rio Leviathan and the Depth Finder and prefer the Depth Finder. I’ve had better results with it so I bought another as well.
Last year I came so so close to being in a possibly exclusive club of getting an Oregon Yellowtail on the fly (they did eat the jigs though) . Hope I have another chance this year and the school I find does more than make quick slashes at it.
I'll likely be heading out on the next weather window. The Niño is ready.
I'll likely be heading out on the next weather window. The Niño is ready.
Thanks for the heads up @Tallguy and everyone for the advice! Ordered a 500 grain - look forward to putting it to use.
Better get your Shad Chunks™ out.
Hah, the yellowjackets are certainly ready for me to pull the smelly, bloody boat into its parking spot after the trip. I have my Fipronil ready for them.