South Australian Angler – June 2018

A TYPICAL DAY ON THE
WAT E R

Because of its popularity now, and the
limited parking spaces available at the
Victor Harbor boat ramp, we usually
arrive to launch at around 5.30am. Even
at this early hour there may already be
20-30 boats already launched, with
most waiting in the lee of the Bluff
until daylight arrives. On busy days I
know there have been as many as 200
boats launched, which is something the
Council will need to look at.
But for us it’s on with the port/
starboard running lights as my LED
spotlights light up the inky blackness
and we cruise steadily around the
Bluff and onward to the tuna grounds.
In my experience so far, the tuna will
not start feeding until the sun has
broken the horizon. It therefore comes
as no coincidence that our first fish
on each of our last three trips hit our
lures at 7.15 am.
Even the birds are quiet until then,
and most are only searching for schools
before the early morning sun can
permeate the water enough for bait
balls and schools of tuna can be seen.
Terns (tuna birds) flag the fish and they
will quite often hover above the water
the same distance that the fish are
under water. Large patches of mutton
birds sitting on the water are another
good sign.
There will be other boats in the area,
so a bit of etiquette will be in order
rather than ploughing straight through
a school and ruining it for everybody. As
explained previously, it pays to watch the
school and get ahead of it, placing your
pulsating lures in front of the leaders of
the pack. Remember that they can swim
to speeds approaching 60 kilometres an
hour, so they will see the lures and chase
them down.
There is nothing more frustrating
out there, after having taken the time
and effort to drift into position near a
school so that you can cast stickbaits in

peace, than having another boat charge

through your school. It is just common

sense, and very rude on their behalf,

but if this behaviour continues, you may

need to head further to the west to find

another school. Just remember there

are plenty out there.

It is quite brutal when a tuna slams

into your lure at warp speed, then takes

off on that blistering, drag-screaming

first run. Once we have received the

initial hook-up, I will normally troll a

further 50m or so in the hope of getting

a double or even a triple hook up. This

works quite well and has resulted in

many multiple hook ups over the years,

which certainly add to the excitement.

It can be an expensive exercise

trolling for tuna all day long, so make

sure when you get a fish that you

look after it, as it will be so much

better on the table. They must be bled

The author with a typical Victor

tuna trolled up on a deep diver

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