Given that long range-grade tuna are now a regular occurrence in local waters, and you never quite know if the next school of tuna you encounter will be 25-pounders, or 250-pounders, what constitutes "local tackle" needs a serious re-boot.
Any time you go out of San Diego, and end up at least 20 miles offshore, just about anything can happen.
For those anglers who don't feel like watching the 90-minute video Captain Art Taylor of the Searcher and I did on this topic recently, here's the list and the basic explanations:
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 Carnage III 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 Carnage III 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 Carnage III 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 Carnage III CARWCIII40100C78
Applications- Tuna up to 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 Carnage III CARWCIII80130C70
Applications- Live bait or fall-type jigs for tuna up to 300 pounds
Any time you go out of San Diego, and end up at least 20 miles offshore, just about anything can happen.
For those anglers who don't feel like watching the 90-minute video Captain Art Taylor of the Searcher and I did on this topic recently, here's the list and the basic explanations:
5 RIGS; DON’T LEAVE THE DOCK WITHOUT THEM!
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 Carnage III 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 Carnage III 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 Carnage III 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 Carnage III CARWCIII40100C78
Applications- Tuna up to 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 Carnage III CARWCIII80130C70
Applications- Live bait or fall-type jigs for tuna up to 300 pounds
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