Tuna Equipment setups

I am far from expert. but, I know a few experts. 

Steve Carson AKA "Senor Tuna" is the director of Penn Fishing Univeristy ad has been so for over 20 years.  These are recc's that he sent to me this week (everything is Penn of course, but a great genral guide to rod and reel size and line strengths.

1. 20-25 POUND RIG

Reel- PENN Fathom star drag FTHII15SD or FTHII12SD

Rod- Conventional 7 to 8-feet, rated for 10-25 or 12-30 pound lines. Ex: PENN CARWCIII1025C80

Applications- Finesse live bait for school size bluefin & yellowfin tuna

2. 30-POUND RIG

Reel- PENN Torque 2-speed TRQ15LD2, PENN Fathom 2-speed FTH15LD2 or FTH15XNLD2

Rod- Conventional 7 to 8-feet, rated for 15-40 pound lines. Ex: PENN CARWCIII1540C80

Applications- All around live bait use for yellowtail, dorado, and finesse live bait tuna to 75 pounds

3. 40-POUND RIG

Reel- PENN Torque 2-speed TRQ25NLD2, PENN Fathom 2-speed FTH30NLD2 or FTH25NLD2

Rod- Conventional 7 to 8-feet, rated for 25-50 or 30-60 pound lines. Ex: PENN CARWCIII3060C76

Applications- Live bait use for tuna up to 100 pounds; light & medium jigs for tuna & yellowtail

4. 60-80 POUND RIG

Reel- PENN Torque 2-speed TRQ40NLD2, PENN Fathom 2-speed FTH40NLD2

Rod- Conventional 6.5 to 8-feet, rated for 30-80 or 40-100 pound lines. EX: PENN CARWCIII40100C78

Applications- Tuna up to 175 pounds with live bait and fall-type jigs; yo-yo jigging for yellowtail

5. 80-100 POUND RIG

Reel- PENN International 2-speed 16VISX

Rod- Conventional “Rail Rod” 6.5 to 7.5 feet, rated for 60-130 pound lines. Ex: PENN CARWCIII80130C70

Applications- Live bait or fall-type jigs for tuna up to 300 pounds




Bushy

Excellent information, but he doesn't specify a setup for trolling cedar plugs and Rapalas for 100lbs class fish. This and live bait seem to be the ticket locally. Weekend warriors like myself lack the time to make bait the day before a tuna search trip. Any recommendations for an appropriate trolling set up for the hundred pound class fish we are seeing?

I went with Makairas on a Chark Bait special last winter. Watching the reports is driving me nuts while work schedule and family health issues keep me at home.

Today I bought a United Anglers Centaur 7'6" rod and a Makaira 16Sea with 600 yards of 100# spectra with 80# topshot.   

-Allen

Today I bought a United Anglers Centaur 7'6" rod and a Makaira 16Sea with 600 yards of 100# spectra with 80# topshot.   

-Allen

hellyeah

Today I bought a United Anglers Centaur 7'6" rod and a Makaira 16Sea with 600 yards of 100# spectra with 80# topshot.   

-Allen

What day you heading out?

Today I bought a United Anglers Centaur 7'6" rod and a Makaira 16Sea with 600 yards of 100# spectra with 80# topshot.   

-Allen

Very nice. That is pretty close to the setups I am eyeing. How long of a top shot are you able to fit?

Allen, can you give Matt a trolling set up suggestion?

Polepole can give you a trolling setup suggestion.

I think the PENN International 2-speed 16VISX would be fine (or equivalent) with a 5 or 6' roller guide triolling rod rated 130-150.  Trollingdoes not require the same finess as jigs or live bait.

Today I bought a United Anglers Centaur 7'6" rod and a Makaira 16Sea with 600 yards of 100# spectra with 80# topshot.   

-Allen

What day you heading out?

Heading out on an 8 day in a couple weeks.  However, it is not a BF trip. We'll head straight down to the ridge to target wahoo, unless perhaps there is a spot of BF along the way.  That being said, I hope to flyline a 5# black skipjack on it in search of monster grouper.

-Allen

Today I bought a United Anglers Centaur 7'6" rod and a Makaira 16Sea with 600 yards of 100# spectra with 80# topshot.   

-Allen

Very nice. That is pretty close to the setups I am eyeing. How long of a top shot are you able to fit?

I don't know yet.  It hasn't arrived.  Supposedly it holds 625 yards of 100# spectra.  I had 600 put on it, the rest in topshot.  I'll measure it when it shows up.

-Allen

Polepole can give you a trolling setup suggestion.

I think the PENN International 2-speed 16VISX would be fine (or equivalent) with a 5 or 6' roller guide triolling rod rated 130-150.  Trollingdoes not require the same finess as jigs or live bait.

Depends.  Trolling off a kayak or a big boat?  If off a big boat, with a rail you can work on, or would it be pure standup?

16VISX is in the same class as the Okuma 16Sea.

-Allen

Why not just troll a 65 lbs braid straight up without any top shot? If top shot is required, why not just use braid for it?

Why not just troll a 65 lbs braid straight up without any top shot? If top shot is required, why not just use braid for it?

Shock absorber and invisibility

Last year when the BF came I bought this entry level setup and put 400 yards of PowerPro 80 on it.  Probably not heavy enough and under-adequate line capacity for the fish we are seeing, but its alot bigger than anything else I have. I trolled cedar plugs and Rapalas from a power boat off Pt lobos/Garrapata area last season, but haven't had time to make the effort yet this year, but I would be honored to get my ass whooped by a big BF.

http://sardis.uslakes.info/Store/WestMarine/Fishing-Fishing-Rod-and-Reel-Combos-Conventional-Combos/Okuma-6-Custom-Black-Series-Offshore-Conventional-Combo-Size-30-Reel/18561332/