Malta's Biggest Stand Up record

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Just to add to this, we tried to drift, chum and present bait (not live though) to these smaller bluefin which they call Schoolies over in the US and they weren't interested! Too much small live bait running around meant ours wasn't very interesting to them! We also tried chunking on the same occassion with no luck.

But it's something worth trying again for sure. That and jigging and popping.

[shanook]

I have seen Monster tuns cruising by and tried trolling chumming and whatever i could think of but they just ignored everything I trolled (I didnt have live bait). Dont know about this behaviour. We were about 25 miles out. Have seen Monster tuna near the fish farms of bugibba and again they chase fish but ignore the lures, they even seem to ignore the mackerel that is dropped down on lines. the ones that bite usually run in the 120Kg mark. I was lucky to catch one but unfortunately not on rod but with hand line it was still fun and a fantastic experience but imagine with a standup rod. I hope that all the forum members have the experience of catching one......by whichever method

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Hi Tony, thanks for your insight as you've been out there trolling alot longer than most of us. I'm curious, the big ones you saw 25 miles out, what time of year was that?

I heard that the big ones are at the SPB fish farms but never seen one myself though there are two guys who have permission to go in on their small boats and catch them, I think one is of Connie's fish shop. Apparently the saying goes that the other one is of Italian descent and has much more luck as he uses some secret bait which he does a very good job of hiding even when he deploys.

Fin got us permission last year to go into the inner pen area but we were too big with a 32 foot boat but will be interesting to try and get permission again with a small boat. If I can visually plot a safe course and store it in the GPS I would like to use a Z-Wing to drop the lures down towards the bottom where they are lurking.

Also intend this year to try and drift just outside with live mackeral and a sword light and see what happens.

Envious of your catching such a monster, any pics for the forum ?

[ciappinu]

The sicilian guy is there every day in the tuna season, morning till evening. However I have seen another Maltese guy catch 2 in the space of half an hour once. Massive Tunas, well over the 100Kg range. I also saw him catch another one a few weeks later. Quite impressive.

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Must be very nice to witness yes. I beleive they use thick mono with various jerry cans to tire the fish out. Plus within the inner perimeter there isn't much space to be fighting a big tuna from a rod though it could be alot of fun!!

We'll have to see if we can get permission for this year!

[shanook]

I was out of the tuna pens when I caught mine.Mario the Italian guy uses very light double lines last I noticed were .8mm (80). There is no way to play a tuna near the farms as u will get tangled.
Big tunas pass close to shore in Mid Alungi season thats around mid July

[The_Gaffer]

I heard that a few years back, someone was in that vicinity with a small fregatina fishing for tuna.  He hooked up a big BFT, over 200kgs, and the tuna shoot straight for SP islands, with the fregatina in tow!!.  The scene caused quite a commotion, as the fregatina had lost all the ability to steer, and was zig-zagging in a dangerous fashion towards the islands!!

[bigboy]

This year if nothing happens im going to give it a try out there at the SPB fishfarms and try out my luck. I think i wil lgo with the big boat because im scared that my 13 foot boat will not withstand all that pressure done by the tuna. It is my dream to land a monster with my small boat though.

Largest fish caught with it till now was a 45kg swordie.

I am now aiming bigger though lol. Today i was havin a chat with a friend of mine and we brought up the discussion. We planned to give it a try for tuna this year. Any suggestions about the techniques used next to the fish farms??? As bait i was planning to use kavalli and as for hooks the tuna hooks which they use on longlines. Any suggestions?

[bigboy]

Any suugestions pls as im gettin the gear ready from beforehand as i start end of year exams at junior college in 2 weeks time so i have to get on with my studying :S

[shanook]

Hi bigboy
Well u need a good line say 120Lb and a good sharp strong hook, 2 containers filled with jabloo, a small lead weight and a balloon. U need a good strong gaff or a flying gaff (gaff with rope). if u can do a tail noose its better than a gaff in my opinion.
I use kavalli hooked from their back with the line tied near the tail with an elastic band or electrical tieback. I go down two thirds of the way to the bottom (darker down there so line is a bit obscured), i use the balloon not fully blown up to act signal as well give time for tuna to swollow then the tanks. When the bait is taken I drive off from the tuna pens realeasing line letting the 2 tanks take the weight and tiring the fish. when I am 200 mtres off I start pulling in the line IF its a big one its the boat that moves and mine did (18ft kaptan). When and only when the second tank is halfway out of water I start pulling in the fish. One word of advice rest while the tanks are working because once u start pulling on the fish u must not rest, but u have ot keep continuous pressure. Dont forget if for a person to catch his breath and rest a bit, takes 2 minute for a tuna it takes 45seconds.
I hope i have helped a bit if not ask

[bigboy]

Thanks shanook you are of great help. i was planning to have at least two lines out or is thins too much? should i chum the area with kavalli or not? when sayaing 120LB what diameter of line are you mentioning?? ur getting me more into this and this summer its gonna have a go. it is productive though jew nispicca nirroffa l petrol u l liska ? :p

[shanook]

re petrol if by the fishfarms its quite cheap as u go there and anchor with the tuna pens lines. Regarding productivity: fishing is never a sure thing, as long as u enjoy urself thats all that matters. U can have two lines or multiple lines out its up to u and how cool u stay when u catch a fish. regarding chumming well its a good idea but then i would suggest that u move away from the pens as once u start chumming u are attracting the tuna, for yourself and for others. the diameter of the line depends on the make but a 120Lb might run in the 2mm daimeter, I always go by the poundage.

[bigboy]

i was going to try with a double line of 0.90mm maybe having a 6m leader and then going on to 1.2mm line goined with a swivel all the way up to the tanks. another 8m of line and then the rest would be korlin which i have a whole tank full. What is the approx time i t takes you to bring in the fish ? and as for nthe tanks are 2 10ltr yellow oil tanks good?

[shanook]

Double .9mm should be enough as long as its of equal length. From tank to boat i have korlin as well. By the way always have things out of the way as its dangerous once the tuna takes the hook. I saw one going overboard because the line tanglesd in his hand. Lucky for him it came off otherwise.....since u are using .9mm have a pair of gloves as the thin diameter will hurt you. it took me about 45 minutes of hard hauling to bring it in. Once u start pulling it in take note when the fish pulls down and when it just holds it tight. Dont forget that tuna start a circling movement and its half circle pulling down and half just tight. So go with the fish when its downward just keep tight and when it up u pull hard. Its more difficult to explain then to do. Always feel the fish as a tight line transmitts information. I use 10ltr tanks. expect to see then diving in deep its amazing what strength a tuna has.

[bigboy]

Thanks shanook ur great for giving out explanations. Hope i will be successful in catching at least 1 hehe. yep i do have gloves as i always use them when we are fishing for swordfish. Ejja forsi naqbdu wahda imqar u tkun bizzejjed as sajf kollu:) Thanks very much m8 And goodluck to you aswell maybe you will have some luck aswell to catch a monster aswell.