By A. deGruchy
Late summer in the Florida Keys means steady blackfin tuna action. Look for them around offshore humps like Marathon and Islamorada, especially early in the morning, and over wrecks in 200 to 600 feet of water.
Troll small feathers, ballyhoo, or bonito strips when the fish are feeding near the surface. If they’re holding deeper, vertical jigging is the way to go. Savage Gear jigs in the 100 to 200 gram range work great. Drop them straight down and work them quickly to trigger bites.
For gear, the new Penn Spinfisher VII combo in the 4500 to 6500 size is a solid choice. Spool it with 30 to 50 pound braid and 30 pound fluoro. It’s a strong and smooth setup that handles tuna with ease.
Watch for bird activity like frigates and terns diving. That usually means tuna are pushing bait to the surface. And always fish with respect. Don’t troll behind another boat or crowd or someone who is already on a school. Give space and enjoy the bite.
Blackfin tuna grade is better than bluefin in my opinion; you can eat it raw, do poke bowls, sushi rolls or sear it with sesame seeds!
Be sure to follow deGruchy’s adventures on YouTube (Bean Sportfishing TV) and @bean_sportfishing on Instagram.