Trolling Lures For Albacore Tuna

This is only a small sample of trolling lures for albacore tuna or any other tuna for that matter. Looking through the catalogs can be intimidating if you are relatively new to tuna fishing. There is so much to choose from. Approach tuna fishing the same way you would approach any other kind of fishing. Different techniques and lures for varying conditions and different presentations as the season progresses.  If you are in a productive area and not getting bit? The tuna are telling  you they want something else of something faster or slower.

These are Sevenstrand tuna clones. Pretty much the early season go to trolling lures. Ask any fisherman to list his favorite tuna lures and these will be near the top. You can fish them alone or on the end of daisy chains or spreader bars. I prefer daisy chains but you will find just as many fisherman who prefer spreader bars or a couple spreader bars and a couple daisy chains in the same spread or just fishing the clones as singles. They come in two sizes. T100 is 4 inches long and the T200 is 6 inches long. Once again it is mostly fisherman's preference as to size but the T200 may have an edge in rough seas as they are heavier. They are made with or without feathers. The feathers give a little more bulk but they will fade over time. The tuna haven't told us which they prefer. They just eat them both.

Popular colors are Pro Dolphin---green/yellow, Zucchini---Yellow/orange/chartreuse, Sable fish---black/purple and Mexican flag---red/yellow/green.

Color choice when saltwater fishing is the same as any fishing. Dark days use dark colors, bright days use bright colors. Sable fish when it is overcast and Zucchini in the sunshine. Mexican flag is considered neutral. Both a dark and sunny lure choice.

(yellow, orange, chartreuse)

Fisherman everywhere are always trying to come up with something different or to make their own fishing lures. Catching fish on something you made yourself is worth extra bragging rights. These are some that I made using silicon skirts and silicon skirts with salmon hootchies. They do catch fish. Clones and cedar plugs are tuna lures you will regularly see homemade versions of.

There are times when the tuna just won't come up to the surface to hit a lure. The answer is go to the tuna with deep diving trolling plugs. These Rapala magnum's will dive down to 20 feet. Sometimes that is all it takes.

The two on the left run a bit shallower. They have a smaller diving bill. the two in the center are similar to the Rapala's and the two on the right are Yo-Zuri Hydro Magnums, 7 inches long.

Cedar plugs come in 4,6 or 8 inch sizes. I usually use the 6 inch. There are multiple color combination's available but the plain cedar usually catches as many fish as any other.  We fish them as singles but you can also buy daisy chains made from multiple cedar plugs. One thing about the cedar plugs is they catch fish all season long. Sometimes when nothing else will.

Swimbaits are something everyone carries. Fish them slow, fish them fast, drop out of gear and let them sink, back into gear and they rise. Sometimes that is all it takes. Usually we carry 3-4 inch baits for casting and 5-6 inch baits for trolling. Jig heads are usually 1 to 2.5 ounces. The heavy ones for trolling.

I usually start with these early season and will use them until they stop getting hit. The only lure with a hook is the last one in the chain. A tuna clone which is usually a different size or color than the rest of the baits in the chain. The lower photo show a little better the different styles. The straight chain (predator chain) is made from a single piece of 200 pound test mono. The "jumping" chains are made form the same 200 pound test but the jumpers are crimped pointing ahead so they "jump" around in the water. The idea is more commotion attracts more tuna.

If you are looking for trolling lures for albacore tuna than it is likely you have entered or are about to enter the darkside. Let me be the first to welcome you to a sportfishing pursuit like no other. You will soon find yourself looking at expensive rods and reels and very large boats. Soon you will be scheming ideas to convince your spouse to get a second job so you can afford this affliction that is upon you. There is no cure, only the occasional fix when you load the boat.

Every other thing you do becomes nothing more than a way to pass the time between tuna fishing trips. You will watch countless fishing video's and bookmark websites of sport yachts you could not possibly afford. You will daily check the latest ocean forecasts looking for a window and beg online message boards for fishing reports. And every online retailer with tuna lures will become your friends.

Jets, birds, teasers, they are all worth a try. We do fine with our present arsenal and only think about other lures when the fishing is slow. The main thing with these is they create commotion in the water. We want the tuna to think there is a school of bait and the commotion and silhouettes is what brings them up to strike. Albacore tuna here on the west coast average around in the 20-25 pound range. Your trolling lures can be as simple as a couple salmon hootchies sandwiched on a hook. Some guys use them and do well with them. When tuna are on the bite and in a frenzy they are dumb and it is said they would hit a trolled sock with a hook in the end.