The Hunt for Cape Cod's Giant Tuna

Nothing beats Cape Cod tuna fishing.
The Cape supports a spectacular population of tuna throughout the fishing season. Typically the fish arrive in June, with some staying as late as December. The amount of tuna around Cape Cod over the past few years has been staggering.
There has been a lot of hype in the media about bluefin tuna being depleted and on the verge of extinction. This may be true in places like the Mediterranean Sea and off Asia, however our Cape Cod fishery is strong and the tuna are plentiful.

Cape Cod fishermen are lucky, because much of the action is found just minutes from many of the Cape's harbors. This allows boats of all sizes to get in on the bite. If the weather cooperates, impressive catches from not-so-impressive boats are common.
Impressive schools of tuna fed heavily just north of the Fingers in Cape Cod Bay during June of 2010. The tuna were a mere 6 miles from the Barnstable coast.. These fish proved difficult to catch, however the top water feeding frenzies were downright impressive.
On certain mornings, hundreds of bluefins could be spotted across the horizon, whipping up whitewater and crushing baitfish on the surface.
The fall of 2011 has the potential to be epic for Cape Cod tuna fishing. If the weather cooperates, there is no reason why many big tuna will not be caught.. As is the norm, the baitfish are here in abundance. Half beaks, mackerel, whiting and herring will be plentiful come fall. For Cape Cod tuna fishermen, there is no better time of the year than September and October.
My crew and I hope to focus our efforts on giant tuna this fall. We'll be using live bait to target tuna well over the 300 pound mark.. We will be live-lining bluefish and pogies under balloons and kites.
For those interested in live baiting a big bluefin, using “snack” size bluefish as bait may be the ticket. Snack size blues can be found throughout the Cape's many bays and harbors. These areas are, unfortunately, usually located a fair distance away from the tuna grounds. Adding to the challenge is that bluefish always seem more difficult to find when you need them the most.. Another challenge is figuring a way to transport the blues once you catch them. Expensive bait wells and strategically placed bait cages certainly help. Luckily the time spent catching, storing, and transporting live bluefish often pays off in a big way..
A bait well full of menhaden may be easier to obtain than blues. On a good year, millions of pogies flood into the water surrounding Cape Cod.. Pogies are most efficiently caught by means of gill and cast nets. However actually finding and catching menhaden is a lot easier said than done.. Expect to put in many hours of searching and trial and error before locating and perfecting the art of catching live menhaden.
For those not up to dealing with the complexities of obtaining live bait, artificial offerings are a viable option. Artificial presentations may not be as desirable for targeting giants, however they still catch they fair share of behemoth fish.. Squid bars are always popular with captains who like to troll. Some fishermen target tunas by way of spinning gear. These fish are generally smaller, however the style of fishing is often more exciting. However fighting tuna on spinning gear can be very taxing on an anglers body. Being in decent physical condition is a necessity when pursuing bluefins on spinning tackle..
There are many different ways to target bluefin tuna. The best way to go about it is determining a method that works well for your boat and crew..
Without a doubt, autumn is a fantastic time to be a fishermen on Cape Cod. The bluefin fishing is great, but it is not all that the Cape has to offer.. Aside from tuna, the striped bass fishing and whale watching can be incredible.
Switching tactics and pursuing stripers is always a viable alternative if the giant tuna bite slows. Often time’s 20-40 pound bass are caught on the same pogies and squid bars meant for tuna.
The fall of 2011 has great potential for anglers fishing off Cape Cod. If the weather cooperates expect some seriously big tuna at the docks. Large striped bass will certainly be part of the mix as well..
The opportunities are truly endless.