A yellowfin tuna can be a hard-fighting, tasty addition to your cooking repertoire. Catching one yourself will provide an even tastier experience, though it's not always easy. The following guide should help you learn the basics of catching yellowfin tuna so that you can become part of the ever growing number of people who have successfully caught their own dinner.
The first thing you need to catch yellowfin tuna is a good strong line. Yellowfin can be very strong and will test the strength of your line before it's caught, so buy the thickest line that you're comfortable with using. It doesn't matter if it's monofilament or braided because after you've got a good knot tied, you shouldn't have any problems.
Once you've got your line, it's time to decide what kind of bait to use. The most popular are live fish or dead squid. A whole herring will usually work as well but it may be best to cut off the head so that they don't try and run away with your hook. Squid is probably the best bet, but live fish like sardines or mackerel are also recommended.
Now that you've got your line and bait it's time to cast. Cast out as far as possible; if there are any rocks or coral try sticking the bottom of your rod in them so you can cast out. Try to get your line at least fifty feet deep, but the deeper the better. It will usually take between half an hour and an hour for a yellowfin tuna to show up so be patient or you'll scare them off. If you've got live squid it's best to keep them moving around so they don't start to rot.
Once you've got one on the line, wait until he starts to run. Usually yellowfin will start to run by circling around your boat or kayak so it's best not to put yourself in any unnecessary danger, but if they do try and cut themselves off just pull up your rod quickly and reel them in as fast as possible.
When the yellowfin is close to you, try and grab it so that it can't get away. If you've got a net great, if not just keep pulling him in by hand until he's on board. Congratulations! You've now caught your first yellowfin tuna!
If none of this works for you don't worry, catch and release is always an option. Just cut the line as close to their mouth as possible so that they don't choke on any hooks or get caught again later.
Remember to clean your fish carefully after you've caught it if you plan on eating them so you don't get any parasites. Also be sure to filet it correctly. First cut off the head, then make a slit close to the tail and insert your knife all the way up to the head. Make an incision along that line until you can grab its insides. Then pull them out, including the bloodline which is connected inside of it. After that rinse it thoroughly with seawater (if there's none, tap water will do) and cook it however you like.
