How often do you think tuna bite the sinker on a sinker rig?
- Thread starter Cactus Chris
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Although it’s a possibility for a tuna to bite the sinker on a sinker rig, I don’t think it has happened to me. Nearly all sinker rig fishing is done in the daytime and the bluefin have good eyesight. It is easier for them to identify a sardine vs a sinker. At night, not so much.
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It's pretty common for people to fish sinker rig on the first drops on an overnight while it's still dark. I caught one on drop shot sinker while it was still dark and saw several other people fishing them. In fact it was what the crew recommended
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I wonder too in the daytime how much they are actually seeing with their eyes when they are down 200' and deeper
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Pre-Covid it was popular for a couple of seasons to use glow paint sinkers, either torpedo or hollow, to get the sardine down deep. This was just at the start of the bluefin fishing and it was either use a sinker sardine or a flat fall jig to get bit. Both worked.
But I stopped using glow sinkers after having two fish in a row bit off mid-fight. I think that some other bluefin was attracted to the moving glowing object as the hooked tuna was being fought. Anyway, it hasn't happened since I moved the glow sinkers to the white seabass tray.
But I stopped using glow sinkers after having two fish in a row bit off mid-fight. I think that some other bluefin was attracted to the moving glowing object as the hooked tuna was being fought. Anyway, it hasn't happened since I moved the glow sinkers to the white seabass tray.
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Pretty sure l have read somewhere that almost half of a BFT brain is connected to the optic nerve
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On my last 2 dayer trip in late Oct the only fish around the boat were all over 100. All bait fish were caught in the daylight.
I tried for the first time with 80lb bait the “drop shot technique” using 3’ of 20mono attached to the lower hooks ring to a 8oz torpedo down a few hundred feet down at 8am.
I got ripped and put the reel in gear slowly, after a few seconds everything came loose. Reeled up and sinker was missing and the dine was untouched. Switched back to the standard sinker right with torpedo on top and pulled in 3 over a 100#s. I did get a 4th over 100 but on a jig at nite. Our boat only had 12 for the trip. One passenger used the drop shot style and did get one over 200. I prefer the sinker on top, rubber banded about 8’ up the line.
I tried for the first time with 80lb bait the “drop shot technique” using 3’ of 20mono attached to the lower hooks ring to a 8oz torpedo down a few hundred feet down at 8am.
I got ripped and put the reel in gear slowly, after a few seconds everything came loose. Reeled up and sinker was missing and the dine was untouched. Switched back to the standard sinker right with torpedo on top and pulled in 3 over a 100#s. I did get a 4th over 100 but on a jig at nite. Our boat only had 12 for the trip. One passenger used the drop shot style and did get one over 200. I prefer the sinker on top, rubber banded about 8’ up the line.
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yep sounds like your sinker got ate. I like the drop shot style and seems to be working well on the boats
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I really need to spend more time fishing with a sinker. Just don't have the patience. I'm a jig guy......with ADD
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We've had them on the sink and we had one of our biggest grinding a sardine back to the boat as fast as you can turn the handle. No real pattern to the strikes. Just all over the board. All rubber band/sinker rigs.
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Thanks.
I’ve had lots of bites on the rubber band/sinker on both the drop and the retrieve; both YFTs and BFTs.
The drop shot sinker has advantages, but I’ve yet to see or hear of a bite on the retrieve. All of my bites have been on the sink.
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I have spent many days sinker rig fishing. I get bit far more often on the retrieve. Probably 80%. Possibly because I’m very patient and willing to keep the sardine out for a long time.
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On a 2 day last fall I was fishing the drop shot style and couldn’t get bit. Line was marked, at the right depth, lively bait. Guys fishing the rubber band sinker (same size hook) were getting bit so I switched and got bit 1st drop.
I know the drop shot has worked for many but feel like the bait swims better with the rubber band style.
I know the drop shot has worked for many but feel like the bait swims better with the rubber band style.
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I’m fishing the rubber band sinker rig with the sinker 4-5 feet above the hook, just above the fluoro-mono connection.
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It'll be interesting to see if the drop shot style continues to be popular. Some of the best captains were using and recommending it last year and I usually follow their lead because they really want people getting fish on the boat
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Slightly off topic but close……..Fishing Guadalupe back when spectra was new I use to carry a torpedo sinker in my pocket to straighten out the spectra on the reel before the next cast. I just put the hook through one of the rings on the 4 oz sinker and dropper it down far enough to “clean up the spectra” so the next cast would be without issue. On two occasions the sinker got bit under the boat, ran good but could not get the hook set. It was very surprising and was I smart enough to switch from bait to a jig under the boat…….nope!
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