Tackle Tip Thursday Vol 224 (Big Tuna Tackle)

Steve Carson of Penn Fishing Tackle handles the subject we all want to hear more about--targeting big (and we mean BIG) tuna!
From reels to rods to techniques at the rail, this is a real seminar in maximizing your chances at landing a fish of a lifetime!

[@zekeshandles]

I made a handle for fighting big fish on the rail like this, it has worked awesome! hope to test it on the west coast some day. Thanks for all the great content!

[@ynellirosas]

I really enjoy your vids! Thank you

[@amritsingh5054]

Awesome content Sir Keep up the good job

[@tunanorth]

Feel free to ask follow up questions!

[@xhammerhead22x]

When is penn gonna update the gear ratios on the 40n torque?

[@evillegas705]

Any word on a New Torque, possible power handle and pull to turn preset knob @tunanorth ??

[@tunanorth]

@@evillegas705 Nothing yet, but the Power Knob on the Gen2 Fathoms definitely fits on the Gen1 Fathoms, so I "assume" they will also fit the current Torques, though I don't know anyone who has tried it yet.

[@mikeb9223]

Love the old black and gold fathoms. Not into the new ones . Great reels though

[@pan8a]

I've noticed that a lot of guys are catching big fish with mix matched tackle and by that I mean they'll have a rod like a viper which is rated 80-130 and a fathom 40 or you'll see guys with a VISX 20 and a rod rated 50 to 80 and they're landing 100 plus pound bluefin with relative ease but guys with 60 lb rods and a fathom 40 aren't landing the fish as fast

[@tunanorth]

Different rod companies have different standards for how they rate their rods. Its usually best to take the middle of the rating, but you can never be sure exactly what line it will perform best with, unless you pull [hard] on the rod first. Also, skill levels vary considerably between anglers.

[@leonardlucioscordeirokusdr5119]

Dear Mr i have questions to Penn, I buy this reel Fahon the same video, can i cast 50, 60 yds with it? It is possible with free spool? And why does penn not produce up set rods, i want a penn rod but i need to travel with the rod and i need only upset rod! Thanks Leonad from Brasil

[@tunanorth]

Casting 50 or 60 yards with the heavy tuna tackle shown would be very difficult. However, with some of the smaller models [not shown], casting that distance is easy.

[@timeves6012]

Thanks for the video. One question; Why not use the 7.1:1 40?

[@tunanorth]

The single speed 40N in the "High Speed" version is a specialized model made specifically for [relatively] light 20-30 pound test mono. The drag curve is such that if you dial it up for anything heavier than that, you will lose freespool.

[@Clayton_J]

Im new to fishing and I just purchased a rod rated at 100 to 150 and had the reel spooled with 100 lb braid. Should I replace the 100 lb braid for 130 lb braid?

[@tunanorth]

A lot depends on the rod. Different companies use different rating systems. Chances are it will be fine [especially for just a single trip], so if you are going out on a trip aboard the Searcher or other San Diego boat soon, have the captain or member of the crew check it out "hands on".

[@Clayton_J]

Will do. Thank you

[@user-uu2rx7nn9o]

100lb braid on the right reel with the right rod will handle just about anything you are likely to run into. When the tuna start getting over 300 lbs it may be a bit under gunned.

[@user-jc4yv7eg7c]

I’m 71. On the 100 pound setup. Do you recommend me setting the drag at 20-25 pounds??? I don’t want to wreck my back at 33 pounds of drag.

[@ZRH719]

25 lb is sufficient for 100lb. Using the rail will help your back. Using a 7 ft rod vice 7.5 or 8 ft helps the back as well.

[@tunanorth]

You don't need to set the drag at Stike that high at all. There is plenty of room for additional drag above Strike, but be sure to have someone experienced in drag setting assist you, and ve sure to use a drag scale.

[@user-jc4yv7eg7c]

@@ZRH719 Thanks Zach. I just can’t keep up with the young guys. The rod is 7 1/2’ and I was considering something like that.

[@user-jc4yv7eg7c]

@@tunanorth Thanks tuna. Yea I’ll most like set it at 20# then add more drag on my HXW. Man last year I threw out my back and needed some attention. You gotta set it at 33# I was told. Did one time I almost had my gear get away from me. Good thing there was a crew member next to me and he grabbed my rod. I just let him do some work hand it back to me and back and forth. Those young dudes make it look way to easy. I’m starting to feel it now at 71 lol

[@user-uu2rx7nn9o]

@@user-jc4yv7eg7c I'm 61 and I am in pretty good shape(lift weights, 118/68 blood pressure, etc..) and I'm feeling it now. It's getting tougher to fight for rail space against the young bucks. Plus, the last 2 years, I've pulled hamstrings and Achilles tendons right before a trip. I still went. I just was hobbling in semi pain the whole time. Makes holding onto a big tuna, especially at night, a real adventure. Landing the tuna makes it all worth it. If you're now starting to feel it at 71, don't feel bad brah, that's iron man level.

[@H43339]

Seems like you should use bigger braid like 100lb.-120lb. Then 80 lb. Mono Top Shot

[@tunanorth]

The 40N size reel is "relatively" small, so going with 80-pound braid allows you to get around 500 yards on there. The thinner braid also sinks better, allowing better presentation of smaller-size jigs.

[@1239bassman]

How much drag are setting for strike on all the setups in the video?

[@tunanorth]

I am reltively conservative with Strike settings, going with about 20 pounds with 80-pound gear, and 25 pounds with 100 pound gear. There is plenty of additional drag between Strike and Full, that can be into play when needed.

[@user-jc4yv7eg7c]

Hello Steve. I’m going on a 2 day trip Friday. I’m 71 and have a 100# set up. What’s a good drag setting for a 71 year old man?

[@tunanorth]

Ha-Ha, whatever you can handle! Work with a member of the crew to figure out what you can hold comfortably.

[@nancyn3863]

Sorry my comment was inadvertently deleted so have to retype. What do you think of using the 25n 2 speed fathom for blue fin up to 120lb using the following set up. 500 yards of 65lb Maxcuatro (breaking strength 80lb) with 20 yards of 80lb fluorocarbon leader. Was thinking this may be appropriate because the max drag of this reel (33lbs) is 1/3 the breaking strength of the line and there would be plenty of line to work with because of the Maxcuatro line. Plus I don't know if I can even handle more than 33lbs of drag. Thank you for your response in advance.

[@tunanorth]

That reel is capable of landing a bluefin of that size, but it is well past the design parameters of the 25N model. The "max drag" of any reel should not be used for any kind of extended period. The ideal operating drag of that model would be in the 15-19 pound range; as such it is perfect for 30-40-50 pound topshots.

[@nancyn3863]

I see. Thank you for explaining that. Thank you

[@JustinDyke-ky2yh]

You want a 40N for a 60-80lb reel. A 25N is more of a 30-50lb reel.

[@user-uu2rx7nn9o]

I concur, I would do the 25N 65# braid with a 30# to 50# top shot depending fly line/jigs/casting. A 40# top shot will land a 100# tuna.

[@nancyn3863]

Thank you for this

[@kendebeer9269]

Such nonsense. A 200 lb bluefin especially at night is not taking 200-+ yards of 100 lb line out. You guys are just "fishing" with winches. Lock the drag down, put in low gear and grind away. I have seen large tuna come in 10-15 minutes. Needing 600 yards of line? Hilarious

[@Jewliegirl29]

How big of a fish will a Penn fathom 60 catch?

[@tunanorth]

A lot depends on what species of fish, along with several other factors [not to mention luck!]. What kind of fish are you going after [and where]?

[@Jewliegirl29]

@@tunanorth tuna

[@Jewliegirl29]

@@tunanorth San Diego

[@tunanorth]

@@Jewliegirl29 OK got it. All Fathom models are "medium frame". As such, they are excellent for tuna up to the 175 pound category, but as the tuna start to edge toward the 200-pound range and above, you want a "heavy frame" reel like an International 16VISX, which can handle bluefin up to 300 pounds, or even bigger if some luck goes your way. As noted in the video, an International 20VISX is awesome for the real big ones.

[@Jewliegirl29]

I ended up buying the visx 20 my rod is rated 60-130 what size braid to you recommend fill it with and should I get color change every 100’?

[@casper123103]

What rod is it in 40

[@tunanorth]

Two different rods work well with the 40N, either the 7 foot, 8 inch model rated 40-100, or the 7 foot model rated 60-100.