GIANT TUNA: A CHALLENGE BY ANYONE’S STANDARDS

Massachusetts fishing is great! We can fish for a wide variety of species and many of them can be found close to shore. Anything from flats to giants cruise the coast from the Cape to New Hampshire. Fishermen enjoy the challenges of fighting a striper on a fly rod to wrestling a giant tuna to submission. You can do it all.

Now that the waters of Massachusetts Bay have risen sufficiently to the temperatures that are favorable for the giant tuna, fishermen have started searching for this prized gamefish. Not only do tuna present a challenge for even the most experienced fisherman but they reward the successful fisherman with a sizeable payday.

Preparations for the start of the tuna season have already been made. Gear has been checked and made ready but most important, it was just a short time ago that tuna fishermen stocked up on mackerel, prepared it for freezing and filled freezers for the season. It will be used for chum and some of it will be sewed into daisy chains.

Each year new fishermen to the sport make their presence known by disregarding the rules of courtesy that have been established by generations of tuna fishermen. To many, tuna fishing is a sport that is very enjoyable, but to others it is a way of life. They make their living chasing these prized fish.

Because there is so much involved with tuna fishing, including a large investment in equipment and time, many fishermen refuse to divulge and secrets including techniques and locations. Locations are somewhat easier to learn as a large congregation of boats will signal something going on.

Many fishermen claim that Stellwagen Bank is one of the best locations for tuna fishing. The unique structure of the bank with it’s various currents holds huge amounts of baitfish. As the season progresses, the Northwest Corner of the Bank is like a small floating city with anchored boats as thick as a swarm of bees. Jefferies Ledge, an underwater mountain range that is crescent shaped and is spread out from just off Gloucester well into the Gulf of Maine is another popular location for tuna fishermen. Ipswich Bay is another area that tuna fishermen have scored nicely in. Later in the year, "football tuna" have been caught throughout Ipswich and often times just off Marblehead.

For fishermen in this area traveling to the Northwest corner is a relatively short trip. Located about 15 miles out of Salem, the LORAN numbers for the Northwest corner are 13819.4/25668.0. These numbers will get you to the bank but you will have to jockey for prime locations.

Good numbers of tuna fishermen set out for the Southeast Corner of Stellwagen which is another good tuna location. Although the southern section of the bank is more often frequented by fishermen from the Cape, fishermen from the North Shore also take advantage of the good fishing in this area also. The numbers for the Southeastern corner of the bank are 13770.0/25520.0. Your exact location will have to be fine-tuned.

As the season progresses, more fishermen start to work Jefferies Ledge. The Ledge is popular among Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine fishermen. Despite the lengthy travel time required for many local fishermen, Jefferies remains high on the list of productive tuna grounds. With conditions lining up just right, bait concentrations, currents and weather conditions, many fishermen feel that Jefferies is the prime area for the largest of the large tuna.

There are a couple of locations on Jefferies that have been good to fishermen. One is a hill that rises to about 125 feet. Quite a few tuna have been hooked, fought and brought to gaff in this location. Different techniques seem to work equally well for most fishermen. This area is a spot to try trolling. The numbers are 13725.0/44336.0

Another hill that stands out for tuna fishermen because of it’s sharp rises, usual bait concentrations and strong currents rises to about 115 feet. Some fishermen will find this area difficult to fish for the same reasons it is draws fish, namely strong currents. Experienced and skilled fishermen will adjust methods and techniques so that conditions will work in their favor. The numbers to this location are 13704.0/44334.6.

The numbers 13670.1/44332.9 mark the location of a popular and productive location on Jefferies. Fishermen like to troll the sharp drop-offs in this location. Skill in boat handling is required in order to stay tight to the edges. Currents along these sharp edges create unique currents and produce good bait concentrations that translate into prime tuna locations.

The above Jefferies Ledge locations are fairly close to one another and can be fished separately or together. Most fishermen, especially those that like to troll, will cover as much ground as possible hopefully increasing the odds of encountering a tuna.

In recent years, fishermen have seen more and more fish inside Ipswich Bay. Though no numbers are required to work the Bay, this area should not be overlooked. Though the area can be productive at any point in the season, more often than not Ipswich Bay seems to produce much better in the fall. Many a bluefish angler has experienced the surprise of being "spooled" by a tuna.

Another area that does not need a set of numbers to find is located close to shore. Fall fishermen have observed schools of football tuna traveling in as close as Halfway Rock and Nahant’s Egg Rock. Fishermen should be aware of the potential for tuna in these areas. If conditions line up right, there could be some exciting times for small boat fishermen.

Keeping a sharp eye for fishing activity and a keen ear for rumors and reports will all help you to locate other areas that will produce tuna. The skill in tuna fishing lies in the ability to read conditions, prepare and present baits and most of all handle a green fish. More fish are lost to the inability of the fisherman to handle a green fish than to what most refer to as equipment failure. Each fisherman must gain valuable experience in handling a fish and this can only be accomplish by hard fishing and learning from mistakes. Every successful tuna fisherman has "paid his dues" and now enjoys the fruits of his labor.

The exact positions of productive locations will generally change from trip to trip. These locations have been productive for fishermen and are meant to be added to your own list of favorite spots. Try your luck at some or all of them, you may be surprised.