Tuna fishing is pricey, so make sure you take good care of your catch to get the most out of your trips out to sea.
People often say that the hardest parts of tuna fishing are planning, executing, and being determined. But for even the best fishermen, what happens after the fish is caught is over looked too often. Caring for your catch is crucial. If you don’t take the right steps to keep your fish fresh, you could end up with a bad product or, worse, you could have caught your fish entirely for nothing, wasting it. You can make sure you get the best product possible by following a few simple steps. However, it seems like many offshore anglers don’t fully understand these steps, so let’s get started.
Everyone knows that you need to bring ice when you go tuna fishing, but how much ice should you bring? Everyone has a different idea, but you should have one pound of ice for every pound of fish you plan to keep. Yes, that is right, and no, you did not read that wrong. If only the world were perfect, that would be fine, but it’s not, so bring at least a half-pound for every pound of fish you plan to bring home. Just to be honest, bring a lot more ice than you think you’ll need. It will be used for a lot more than just the catch.
Dragging is a crucial step of the process which is often neglected. Dragging is when you tail-rope your tuna and drag it behind the boat at a slow pace. This process lets your catch cool down because they just fought hard and their body temperature has gone up much higher than normal. Your catch may need to be bled after a short time of dragging. You should then keep dragging the fish. Bleeding the fish yields a much better product back at the dock and on the plate. There are many ways to bleed a tune; some people poke arteries while others cut the gills. In the end, it’s your choice but make sure to do it ethically and safely.
When you catch a tuna, two more important steps that make sure you get the best product are collaring it and packing it. Collaring is a process that involves removing the head and internals of your catch. Should the fish’s body not be at least a certain size without the head, you will have to leave it on. Once you have gutted the fish, you will need to begin packing it. This is when the ice you brought will come in handy; you will want to put ice inside the body to cool your meat from the inside out. After you’ve packed your tuna, put it in the fish box and cover it with more ice. With ice on the outside and inside, your catch will stay close to freezing, so when you get back to land, you’ll have the best food possible.
Everyone has their own way of filleting fish, but the main idea stays the same. I typically start by making a few cuts in specific locations. One cut is vertical, a few fins up from the tail. Then I make a horizontal cut right down the middle of the fish. Finally, I make a vertical cut behind the pectoral fin. Once I’ve made those cuts, I will separate that side into two loins. After that, I’ll take off the skin, cut off any bloody meat, and do it all over again on the other side. Next, I’ll cut my loins into meal-sized pieces. This will make it easier to share the catch with the other fishermen on my trip.
It may seem like a lot of preparation, and it is. But when it comes to hundreds of pounds of prized tuna that you spent a lot of time and money catching, you’ll want to make sure it’s taken good care of. Please take my advice.
For tuna fishermen, the fishing season is a busy, exciting, and profitable time. But what do these fishermen do when tuna season ends each year? The offseason lives of tuna fishermen may surprise you.
Tuna fishing season generally runs from early spring through late fall when tuna are abundant in coastal waters. During peak season, crews are extremely busy hauling in 800-1000 pound tuna daily. The work is hard and the hours are long, but successful crews can earn good incomes.
When the season ends each year, tuna fishermen shift gears and focus their energies in different ways. Here’s a look at some common ways fishermen spend their time during the offseason months:
Boat Maintenance and Repairs
The offseason provides tuna crews valuable time to perform maintenance on their boats, making repairs and upgrades to ensure they’re in top shape for the next fishing season. This can include painting, waxing, and polishing the hull, servicing engines and equipment, mending fishing nets, and making improvements to electronic instruments, living quarters, and more Having a vessel in optimal condition makes for a safer, more efficient fishing season.
Administrative Work
Running a commercial fishing operation involves a lot of administrative work behind the scenes – tracking finances, filing paperwork obtaining fishing licenses/permits hiring crew members, arranging bait and fuel supplies, and more. The offseason allows captains and boat owners to catch up on these essential tasks. Smart financial planning also helps many fishermen survive the non-fishing months.
Pursuing Personal Interests
After an intense 8-10 month tuna season, many fishermen welcome the offseason as a chance to relax, spend time with family, and pursue personal hobbies and interests. Frequent activities include hunting, camping, sports, travel, and home projects. The more flexible schedule allows time for recharging and enjoying life beyond fishing.
Commercial Fishing for Other Species
Some tuna fishermen use the offseason as an opportunity to commercially fish different species like mahi mahi swordfish, snapper, or lobster. This helps diversify their income sources when tuna aren’t running. However, rules and regulations vary so fishermen must obtain proper permits and equipment to target alternate species.
Working alternate jobs
To supplement income during the off months, some fishermen take on temporary land-based jobs in the winter/spring months. Common options include commercial truck driving, construction, working in shipyards, mechanical repair work, or helping out on other fishing boats. The extra income helps cover living expenses when they aren’t actively fishing for tuna.
Heading Down Under
An interesting offseason option for some American tuna fishermen is traveling to Australia or New Zealand to fish for southern bluefin tuna. The seasons are flipped – southern bluefin tuna run November through April. Intrepid fishermen willing to travel can extend their tuna fishing season by heading down under. The bluefin tuna fishery in the waters off New Zealand and Australia is highly regulated but allows access for some American boats.
Education and Training
Other fishermen spend the offseason increasing knowledge by taking continuing education courses in marine safety, equipment operation, navigation, first aid, marine biology, fishing regulations, and business practices to improve their skills. Hands on training workshops related to fishing techniques and technology are also popular. Investing in ongoing education makes crews better informed, trained, and prepared for tuna season.
Boat Shows
Boat shows provide a place for captains and boat owners to check out the latest boats, equipment, electronics, gear, bait & tackle, and meet other fishermen. Major boat shows occur in most coastal regions during the winter months. Crews can survey what’s new and make shopping lists of any upgrades or supplies they may need for the upcoming fishing season. Boat shows also provide an opportunity for networking within the tuna fishing community.
Chartering Their Boat
Some tuna boat captains offer recreational chartered fishing trips during the offseason. This provides additional income and keeps the boat running while tuna migratory patterns shift. Chartering involves taking private groups recreational fishing for smaller game fish, like mahi, snapper, or cod, for a day trip or multi-day excursion. It’s an entirely different pace from commercial tuna fishing but allows boats to keep generating income in the offseason months.
Spending Time with Family
Above all, many fishermen value the offseason as a time to spend quality time with their families. Tuna fishing involves long work days and extensive time away from home during peak season. The off months allow fishermen to reconnect with spouses, children, parents, and friends they may not see much during hectic tuna season. The more relaxed schedule gives them a chance to simply enjoy spending time together.
The lives of tuna fishermen may seem to revolve around fishing, but they stay active in diverse ways during the offseason. Maintenance, administrative work, and personal interests keep them occupied when they aren’t actively fishing. Some even find ways to continue fishing year-round. The offseason provides a valuable interval for boats and crews to rest, recharge, learn, plan, and prepare for the next productive tuna season.
When Fishing Gets Out of Control (Full Episode) | Wicked Tuna
FAQ
How much does the average tuna fisherman make a year?
How long is the tuna fishing season on Wicked Tuna?
How much of Wicked Tuna is scripted?