Tuna Fishing Guide: Gear, Techniques & Rigging for Offshore

Tuna fishing is the heartbeat of offshore angling. Whether you're chunking for yellowfin on a canyon edge, jigging blackfin over a wreck, or trolling for bluefin in the fall, there's nothing quite like the power of a tuna on the other end of your line. This guide breaks down the species, techniques, gear, and rigging you need to target tuna effectively.

Know Your Tuna: Blackfin, Yellowfin, and Bluefin

Not all tuna fish the same way, and understanding the differences between species helps you target them more effectively.

Blackfin Tuna

Blackfin are the smallest of the three, typically ranging from 5 to 30 pounds. They're found throughout the western Atlantic and Caribbean, often close to shore compared to their bigger cousins. Blackfin school aggressively and are the most accessible tuna for day-trip anglers. They respond well to chunking, live bait, trolling small feathers, and vertical jigging. Great fighters for their size and excellent eating.

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin are the workhorses of offshore tuna fishing. They range from 20 to over 200 pounds and are found in tropical and warm-temperate waters worldwide. Yellowfin school in large groups, often mixed with blackfin near the surface. Bigger yellowfin - the 100lb-plus fish - tend to be deeper and more solitary. They hit trolling lures, chunk baits, live bait, and jigs. Yellowfin are the primary target for most offshore tuna trips.

Bluefin Tuna

Bluefin are the apex tuna - giant, powerful, and highly prized. Atlantic bluefin can exceed 1,000 pounds. They're a cold-water species, found from the Gulf of Maine down through the Mid-Atlantic in the fall and winter. Bluefin require heavier gear, specialized techniques, and a lot of patience. Most bluefin fishing involves chunking, live bait, or trolling with heavy tackle in the 80-130lb class.

Technique 1: Chunking

Chunking is the bread-and-butter technique for tuna fishing, especially for yellowfin and bluefin. The concept is simple: anchor up or drift on a productive spot, cut baitfish (usually butterfish, herring, or sardines) into chunks, and create a chum slick that draws tuna up from depth.

Drop chunks over the side at a steady pace - one every 15-20 seconds - to build a continuous trail. Your hook baits are chunks on circle hooks, drifted back in the slick at various depths. Fish one bait on the surface, one at 50 feet, one at 100 feet. Let the tuna tell you where they're feeding.

For chunking hooks, circle hooks are mandatory in most fisheries (and far more effective anyway). The Southern Tuna Hook by Epic Fishing Co. is purpose-built for this application - a strong, sharp circle hook designed specifically for tuna chunking. The Mustad Tuna Circle Hook 2X is another proven option with extra-heavy wire for big fish. For yellowfin and smaller bluefin, a Gamakatsu Tuned Tuna Hook gives you a premium Japanese-made hook with a perfect gap for chunk baits.

When targeting giant bluefin, step up to the Mustad 7693S-SS - a stainless steel Southern & Tuna hook built for fish that can pull 100+ pounds of drag. For more on choosing between circle hooks and J-hooks, read our circle hooks vs. J-hooks guide, and check the hook size chart to match your hook to your target size.

Technique 2: Trolling

Trolling covers water fast and is the best way to find tuna when you're not sure exactly where they are. It works for all three species.

For tuna trolling, speed is moderate - 6 to 9 knots for most lure spreads. A mix of skirted lures, feathers, and diving plugs covers different depths and profiles in the spread.

The Epic Mahi Tuna Trolling Lure Six Pack is a proven tuna trolling lure that runs great in a spread. Grab the Epic Cup Head 8 Trolling Lure and you've got a full spread of color variations ready to go. Add some Epic Sea Witches on your flat lines or as teasers - feathers are deadly on blackfin and school yellowfin. For a compact trolling option that punches above its size, the Mahi Dino-Mite Weenie Lure is a proven producer on both yellowfin and blackfin - run it on a flat line or behind a planer.

The Green Machine Lure is a classic tuna producer that belongs in every offshore spread - green is one of the most consistent colors for yellowfin. The Day Maker Fish Razr is a versatile trolling lure that produces on tuna, mahi, and sailfish - a great all-around option for a mixed offshore spread. And if you want a pre-built trolling kit that covers multiple species, the Mahi Tuna Six Pack from Epic Fishing Co. gives you six lures in proven color patterns at a solid value.

For a full breakdown of how to position your trolling lures, read our trolling lures for beginners guide. Running a dredge behind the boat adds another dimension - check out our article on the top 5 reasons for a fish dredge.

Technique 3: Jigging

Vertical jigging is incredibly effective for tuna, especially blackfin and yellowfin when they're holding on structure, wrecks, or deep ledges. Drop a heavy metal jig to the bottom (or to the depth fish are marking on the sounder), then work it back up with aggressive rod lifts and fast cranks.

Use a fast-action spinning rod in the 30-50lb class with a high-speed spinning reel. Braided line is essential for jigging - it gives you the direct connection and sensitivity to feel bites at depth. Jigs in the 100-300 gram range cover most situations. Speed is key - tuna respond to fast, erratic movement. The Epic Casting Jig is a versatile option that works for both vertical jigging and casting to surface-feeding schools.

For deep jigging situations, deep drop weights help get your presentation into the strike zone quickly, especially in strong current.

Technique 4: Live Bait

When tuna are finicky or you're targeting trophy-class fish, nothing beats live bait. Goggle eyes, pilchards, blue runners, and herring are all excellent tuna baits depending on your region.

Rig live baits on circle hooks through the nose or back, using a fluorocarbon leader of 60-130lb depending on your target species. For yellowfin, 80lb fluorocarbon is a solid starting point. For bluefin, 130lb+ is standard. Free-line live baits behind the boat or fish them under a balloon for depth control.

Tackle Setup

Your tackle needs scale with the species:

• Blackfin: 20-30lb class spinning or conventional. Light enough to have fun, strong enough to boat fish quickly (sharks are always watching).
• Yellowfin: 30-60lb conventional with two-speed reels. Braided main line with a fluorocarbon topshot. You need stopping power for 50-100lb fish making long runs.
• Bluefin: 80-130lb stand-up or chair tackle. Heavy lever drag reels spooled with 130lb braid or 80-130lb monofilamine. Set drags to 30+ lbs at strike. This is heavy-duty fishing.

Leader material varies: fluorocarbon for chunking and live bait (60-200lb based on species), and monofilament or cable for trolling rigs. Wind-on leaders make fighting tuna much easier since you can reel the connection through the guides.

Keep your tuna hooks, leaders, and rigging organized with the Epic Fishing Tuna Case - a purpose-built tackle organizer that keeps everything accessible when the bite is on.

Best Seasons and Locations

Tuna fishing is a year-round game if you follow the fish:

• Gulf Stream (Carolinas to New England): Yellowfin peak May through October. Bluefin show September through January in the Mid-Atlantic, June through October in New England.
• Canyons (Hudson, Baltimore, Norfolk, Wilmington): The canyon edges concentrate bait and create upwelling that draws tuna. Summer and fall are prime time.
• Gulf of Mexico: Yellowfin year-round near the oil rigs. Bluefin from January through March. Some of the most consistent yellowfin fishing anywhere.
• Bahamas and Caribbean: Blackfin year-round. Yellowfin seasonally along deep water edges.

Water temperature is your guide: yellowfin prefer 72-82°F, bluefin are comfortable in 60-72°F, and blackfin like it warm at 75-85°F. Find the right temperature break and you'll find the fish.

Tips for More Tuna

• Watch the birds. Terns and shearwaters diving on bait almost always mean tuna below. Run your spread through the activity.
• Use the sounder. Modern electronics mark tuna easily. Look for arches at 50-200 feet, especially near temperature breaks and structure.
• Don't skimp on hooks. Tuna are powerful fish that stress every component of your tackle. A cheap hook that straightens on a 60lb yellowfin costs you the fish of the trip.
• Match the chunk size to your hook. The bait chunk should just cover the hook - too big and you get short strikes, too small and it washes out fast.
• Keep the chum flowing. Consistency is everything in chunking. If the chum stops, the tuna leave. It's that simple.

Final Thoughts

Tuna fishing is as rewarding as offshore fishing gets. The power of these fish is addictive, and there's always a bigger one out there. Match your technique to the conditions, use quality hooks and tackle, and put in the time on productive water. The tuna will do the rest. Tight lines.

Know Before You Go: Regulations change frequently. Always check current size limits, bag limits, seasons, and gear restrictions with your state fisheries agency before heading out. For Atlantic species, visit ASMFC.org for interstate management updates.