Fly Fishing for Bluefin Tuna – On The Water

Fly fishing for bluefin tuna requires meticulous preparation of gear and tackle, and a deep understanding of bluefin feeding behavior due to their wide variety of prey. *(Pictured above: Rob Tartaglia hoists a 55-inch bluefin tuna he caught on the fly in July of 2022.)*

A 4 a.m. launch out of Buzzards Bay took my father, Rob Tartaglia, through the Cape Cod Canal into Cape Cod Bay, and eventually to the southern edge of Stellwagen Bank. He planned to search for bird activity, schools of sand eels on the surface, and breaching whales—indicators that the “guest of honor” would soon show up to the party.

A massive school of birds working close to the surface brought his attention to a bait ball that was being actively ravaged by a large school of tuna. However, when he and his boatmate arrived at the mayhem, the feed had subsided. Instead of getting back on the engine to search for more activity, he decided to stay put and wait patiently for the tuna to come back for more, knowing the sand eels were still there. Just minutes later, they began their destruction of the bait ball and a 75-foot cast put him in the zone, where he used a 10-count to sink his fly below the birds. He began long, slow strips, causing a bluefin to charge and overtake his fly, and the fight was on. After three long runs and a 28-minute fight, my father had landed his biggest tuna on the fly.

Later that morning, he texted me a photo of one of his favorite bluefin flies, battered and bloody, and a single word: Epic. While he’s had much success over the years with bluefin tuna on the fly, for a long period, fly-fishing opportunities for bluefin were nonexistent because of a lack of tuna in the 30- to 55-inch range, the optimal size for a fly rod. It had been more than five years since he had been able to make a dedicated effort to pursue bluefin on the fly.

Until 2022, it had been several years since there were enough small bluefin feeding at the surface for fly fishermen to have a chance to catch them

In 2007, my dad brought home the first tuna I’d ever seen. When he told me he’d caught it on a fly rod, I couldn’t believe it. While I love all forms of fishing, I find fly fishing to be the ultimate connection between the angler, the environment, and the fish; bluefin tuna present the ultimate challenge. They will test an angler’s focus, skills, and stamina while exposing any weakness in equipment and preparation—yet it’s still possible to catch these behemoths on flies.

School bluefin travel in large groups, often feeding on the surface around whales and under birds, which makes locating them easier for fly anglers and then casting into feeds. Bluefin have the sharpest vision of any bony fish, making them highly effective sight-feeders. My dad said the baitfish that make up a bluefin tuna’s diet “are very reproducible with fly patterns that match the hatch, a very important aspect given the tuna’s eyesight.”

Rob Tartaglia, the author’s father, with a football bluefin on the fly from 2007.

Chasing bluefin tuna can be a challenging task, requiring a thoughtful game plan and detailed preparation to put the angler in the best position for success. In breaking down his game plan for tuna on the fly, Dad said, “The pregame is the game, bait determines behavior, and fight the good fight.”

The Pregame is the Game

A tuna fly fisherman must prepare not only to hook a bluefin, but hook it with the proper rod, reel, and line; in other words “never bring a knife to a gunfight.” Therefore, before gearing up, the angler must determine what size bluefin he is likely to encounter. There are six size-class categories for bluefin, ranging from “small school” to “giant.” The ideal size-classes to target on the fly are the school and large school fish. At 27 to 47 inches, school bluefin can be caught with a 12-weight rod paired with a large arbor reel containing a solid drag system and capacity to hold 300 to 400 yards of backing. When pursuing large school bluefin of 47 to 59 inches, an angler should be armed with a 14- or 15-weight fly rod with a matching large arbor reel.

To catch his 55-incher in July of 2022, Dad used a 15-weight G. Loomis known in the big-game community as the “Beast Master,” paired with a Tibor Pacific 13/15 reel. He spooled it with 600 yards of 60-pound Dacron backing and a Rio Leviathan sinking fly line. For a leader, he tied a straight shot of 6-foot, 80-pound fluorocarbon. This setup was designed to apply maximum pressure during the fight.

During the pregame, it is also very important to determine if the angler will be harvesting fish or practicing catch and release. Plan accordingly with an up-to-date Highly Migratory Species permit, ice, and proper landing gear.

Subduing a hooked bluefin tuna requires specially designed fly rods, like this one here, with a gimbal for use with a fighting belt.

Of extreme importance is deciding where to be during that first hour of sunlight, the golden hour, when chances of connecting with a tuna are higher. Intel from previous days where tuna were feeding will help pattern their location. However, if intel is unavailable, use charts with contour lines and depth changes to locate bait, whales, and birds. My dad favors Stellwagen Bank because of the abundance and variety of baitfish that attract whales, sharks, groundfish, and tuna. The contours and depth changes act as a focal point for his search patterns. Other considerations that may increase your success include having buddy boats on the water to share info on feeding patterns and location. Knowing the tides is also important, as slack tide usually offers a great chance at encountering surface feeds.

Avoiding the “run and gun” crowd is another piece of advice taken from experienced tuna anglers like my father, as it can be difficult to get positioned within range of feeding fish among a fleet of aggressive boats. Fly anglers need to get as close to the feeds as possible since the effective casting range with this gear is 50 to 100 feet. Try to anticipate where the next feed may happen and maintain communication with the helm in order to approach a feeding school at the right angle.

Bait Determines Behavior

In the Northeast, bluefin tuna feed on a wide variety of prey including sand eels, groundfish, herring, halfbeaks, mackerel, squid, and even bluefish. An angler’s ability to successfully target tuna on the fly is highly dependent on the predominant baitfish. Due to the type of bait, their feeding patterns and ability to be successfully targeted on the fly can vary. When tuna feed on fast-moving baitfish like “halfbeaks” (Atlantic saury), mackerel, or herring, it can be difficult to get into fly-casting range before the fish move on. When tuna feed on slower-moving baitfish like bunker, butterfish, and sand eels, they stay put longer, giving a fisherman a better chance to present a fly.

When choosing a fly, try to match the color pattern, profile, and size to the bait. Bluefin have extremely keen eyesight and may easily pass up an offering if it doesn’t reasonably “match the hatch.” The hook should be tuna-strong and razor-sharp because it may be the weakest link in the entire setup. Dad has a few fly patterns he relies on, which include kinky-muddler and mushmouth-style flies tied on 4/0 to 6/0 hooks. The 55-inch bluefin he caught fell for a kinky-muddler in green and white with a purple flash to imitate the large sand eels present that day. This pattern is easy to cast and provides plenty of movement on slow retrieves. I recommend finding a custom fly-tyer who specializes in big-game flies. Kostas Asvestis of K9 Saltwater Flies makes big-game-quality custom flies for everything from billfish to bluefin tuna. Great locally tied flies can also be found at the Bear’s Den Fly Shop in Taunton, Massachusetts.

When choosing a bluefin tuna fly, try to match the size, color, and profile of the bait, and be sure it’s tied on a tuna-grade hook.

When tuna are feeding on fly-friendly bait fish like sand eels and butterfish, patience is a virtue. It may not be necessary to run around looking for an active feed. Observe the activity of the birds because they are an indicator as to whether tuna underneath are getting ready to push bait to the surface. Also, scan below the surface around the bait. Before hooking his 55-incher, Dad saw tuna slashing several feet below the bait ball. The presence of slow-moving bait and active birds are good indications that tuna are nearby and may pop up within fly-casting range.

Fight the Good Fight

Bluefin tuna are one of the fastest fish in the sea and their first run can exceed 40 miles per hour. After hooking one, the first objective is to clear the line cleanly to the fly reel. There is no worse feeling than hooking a tuna and realizing there’s a tangle around the reel seat, or even more terrible, around someone’s foot. Line management is a critical factor when handling these big fish. Set the drag at an appropriate level before the fight begins. Once the tuna takes its initial run, avoid the temptation to increase the drag. Too much drag can easily result in a popped leader. Enjoy that long, drag-screaming run and prepare for what comes next.

A bluefin battle on the fly consists of two phases: two or three long runs followed by a deep dive below the boat. At this point, it becomes a game of leverage, willpower, and technique. The goal should be ending the fight as quickly as possible. Apply maximum pressure on the fish, envisioning turning its head upward. This will bring it closer to the surface as it circles beneath. Additional drag can be applied by palming the reel or even pinching the line with one hand against the rod. Let the rod do the work, not arms and back. Avoid high-sticking the rod and keep the rod angle low, which puts more pressure on the fish and optimizes the power of the butt-end of the rod. As the fight becomes more vertical, effective communication is imperative. Stay vocal with whoever is at the helm because repositioning and adjusting is key to winning the battle at this stage of the fight. Be sure to keep the tuna from running under the boat and toward the engine. As the tuna comes closer to the surface, its circle will become tighter. When it circles at the angler, capitalize and gain line. When it circles away have the grit not to give up line. This is where palming the reel comes into play. A tuna will not give up the fight and neither can the angler. When the angler sees color, this is the opportunity to end the game.

Whether pursuing these amazing fish yourself, with a buddy, or with some of the most experienced charter captains in the world, a fly fishing tuna can be the fishing story of a lifetime. Given the abundance and variety of different size-classes of bluefin tuna encountered in 2022, the prospects are excellent for an exciting season pursuing these fish in upcoming seasons.