Key Topics Covered in This Article
- Morning activity at Point Loma landings
- Sportfishing boats unloading catches on deck
- Dockside fishing culture and operations
- Gyotaku marine art inspired by catches
- San Diego coastal fishing community atmosphere
Systems-first marine marketing blog sales system for marine businesses. Hire Me Through Upwork! Or e-mail me at colbyum@gmail.com for a larger contract. Subscribe To My Youtube Channel To Keep Updated
Below is an article circa 2014 (note the links don't work in it as the old website has been shutdown. But this type of article would have indexed well over 10 years ago. Nowadays, articles have to go way more in depth to be even picked up. Many fishing charters and marine business still have old content that just needs to be updated. You can use old articles like this as a framework and then expand from there.
Tunas are the linebackers of the sea which make them excellent sportfish. They are big, strong, fast, and agile (characteristics of a good linebacker). To make matters even better not only do tuna’s put up a good fight, but they make for excellent table fare. In this article we are going to cover tuna fishing in detail. Below you find plenty of resources about tuna, where to find them, how to catch them, tuna fishing history, and last but not least how to cook them.
There are a number of different types of tuna that can be found all around the world. In this article we won’t cover exotic tuna like dogtooth tuna or other smaller members of the tuna family such as the skipjack, or the bonita. Instead, we will be covering the tuna that you will most likely target if you are fishing for tuna in your hometown, or a dream fishing destination.
Blackfin Tuna (Thunnus Atlanticus)
Pictured of football blackfin tuna caught on Bullbuster monofilament by #BullbusterAmbassador Austin Porter.
The blackfin tuna is one of the smaller tuna’s targeted as a gamefish. They average around 7 Lbs but can reach up to 50Lbs. These tuna’s are often targeting by trolling, vertical jigging, or using live bait methods such as slow trolling, drifting and kite fishing. Blackfin tuna are found mixed in with schools of small yellowfin and large bonitas.
In the United States Blackfin tuna can be found migrating from the Gulf Coast States , the Florida Keys, and the East Coast up to Virginia. The prefer waters up to 70 degrees.
Want To Learn How To Catch Blackfin Tuna?
Learn how to catch blackfin tuna by reading tips and reports written by Bullbuster Ambassadors on Blackfin Tuna.
Want To Cook Blackfin Tuna?
Find Out How To Cook Blackfin Tuna - While blackfin tuna might not be sushi-grade bluefin, it definitely makes a good eat, especially if you know how to cook it. We prefer eating smaller blackfin tuna because you will get better quality meat out of them. We put together a few recipes below on how to cook it.
The photo above was taken of a fat blackfin tuna caught off of Miami, Florida on 20 Lb Bullbuster Monofilament by #BullbusterAmbassador Double Threat Fishing Charters.
Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)
Yellowfin tuna is one of the most sought after Tuna’s in the world. Not only because they are amazing to eat, but because they have a huge range (they do well in water temperatures between 65 and 88 degrees fahrenheit). They can be found both in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and grow up to 400 Lbs, although the average yellowfin caught is 40-50 Lbs in most parts of the world.
The video below was taken by #BullbusterAmbassador Cpt. Jeff Sneider of a big Yellowfin Tuna coming up to the gaff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqQtLf_dhNg
Want To Catch More Yellowfin Tuna?
Read the tips and reports for catching more yellowfins written by #BullbusterAmbassadors here on the Bullbuster Community. (Check Out Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Resources)
Want To Know The Best Yellowfin Tuna Destinations?
Check out the top 10 places in the world to catch yellowfin tuna.
Want To Learn How To Cook Yellowfin Tuna?
Yellowfin tuna is one of the best eating fish in the ocean. It is so good in fact that a lot of times the less you cook it, the better it is. We put together a ton of recipes for yellowfin tuna all into one place.
We have recipes for you sushi lovers who already have your mouths watering and your rice cookers going, recipes for the grill masters out there, the skillet pros, and a little bit of everything in between. Looks like you are going to have to do a lot of fishing to try them all! (Learn More About The Best Yellowfin Tuna Recipes)
Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
Bluefin tuna are the largest and most famous of the tuna. They can reach up to 1500 Lbs and have a long history of being targeted by big game fishing greats such as Zane Grey and Ernest Hemingway.
Learn about the history of the Bluefin Tuna:
Learn how to fish for Bluefin Tuna on spinning tackle!
This isn’t “rigging for Instagram.” This is rigging for the moment a fish is dumping line, the drag is heavy, the rod is pinned, and your connection is the only thing between you and a heartbreak story. When you’re fishing 80 wides for tuna, marlin, swordfish, or any true big-game scenario, you don’t get to hide mistakes. That’s why this splice method is such a valuable skill to learn—and why you’ll see serious crews and experienced captains build their systems around it.
🌊 WHAT PAULY SHOWS IN THIS VIDEO
Pauly keeps it practical and focused. He shows:
✅ How to insert mono into hollow core (the splice method)
✅ How to create a smooth, low-profile connection that runs through guides better
✅ Why this connection is stronger and more reliable than many knot options
✅ How this helps your top-shot hold up when a fish is dumping line and you’re under heavy drag
If you’re newer to hollow core, the “magic” is that the braid is hollow like a sleeve. When mono is inserted inside it, the braid grips it using a finger-trap effect. Under tension, it tightens even more. Done correctly, it’s incredibly secure and very streamlined.
🎯 WHY HOLLOW CORE + MONO TOP-SHOT MATTERS ON 80W REELS
An 80 wide isn’t a casual setup. It’s built for pressure. When you’re fishing heavy drag and big baits, you want a system that behaves predictably under load. A hollow core splice helps you get there.
Here’s what changes immediately:
No big knot bump going through guides
Knots work, but big knots are bulky. They click through rollers, slap through guides, and can hang up at the wrong time. A proper splice is low profile and smooth, which means it feeds cleaner, especially if you’re clearing the deck, repositioning, or winding a fish close.
Less chance of failure at the connection under heavy load
Knot strength can vary a lot based on how it was tied, how it cinched, if it burned, and what kind of mono you used. Splices—when done right—are extremely consistent. Under heavy drag, consistency matters just as much as raw strength.
Cleaner line lay + better capacity on the spool
On big reels, everything builds on everything. A bulky knot can create a high spot, which can cause uneven line lay, especially after long fights. Hollow core backing also gives you better capacity due to the smaller diameter, and the splice connection doesn’t add a big “lump” in the middle of the spool.
A big-game system you can trust when it’s go-time
Confidence matters. When you know your connection is clean and strong, you fish better. You push when you need to push. You don’t baby the fish because you’re worried about a knot.
🧠 WHY NOT JUST RUN STRAIGHT MONO?
A lot of anglers grew up on straight mono, and it still works. But braid backing + mono top-shot became popular for real reasons:
📌 Braid gives you massive capacity and strength for its diameter
📌 Mono gives you stretch, shock absorption, and better handling on deck
📌 Together you get the best of both worlds
The mono top-shot acts like a built-in buffer. Big fish surge. Boats rise and fall. Hooks shake. The stretch helps keep pressure steady and reduces pulled hooks. The braid underneath gives you the yardage and strength to survive long runs and deep battles.
🔧 WHAT MAKES THE SPLICE METHOD DIFFERENT FROM A KNOT?
Knots are external connections. They create a “hard point” where stress concentrates. Under heavy load, any weakness—imperfect cinch, friction damage, tag end slippage—can show up fast.
A splice is different. It’s an internal connection where the braid grips the mono over a long insertion length. Instead of one tight bend doing all the work, the load is distributed along that splice section. That’s why it’s such a reliable connection for heavy tackle.
Also, from a practical standpoint, the splice doesn’t catch in guides the way a knot can. That might sound like a minor detail until you’re in a real fight and you need smooth, uninterrupted line travel.
⚔️ WHEN THIS REALLY PAYS OFF
If you only ever fish smaller species, you might not notice the difference. But the moment you’re fishing true big game, the splice starts paying off immediately:
🐟 Long runs where the fish is dumping line fast
⚓ Heavy drag settings where everything is under max strain
🌊 Rough conditions where the boat is lifting and dropping your pressure
🛥️ Tight maneuvering where you’re winding and repositioning constantly
🎣 Battles where the connection ends up near the guides more than once
This is exactly where knots can become a liability, not because they’re “bad,” but because they’re bulkier, more variable, and more prone to imperfect execution.
🧵 TOP-SHOT LENGTH: WHY IT’S A REAL DECISION
There’s no one perfect top-shot length. What you choose depends on:
✅ Target species (tuna vs marlin vs swords)
✅ Fishing style (trolling, chunking, live bait, kite, deep drop)
✅ How much stretch you want
✅ How much abrasion resistance you need
✅ Your crew’s preferences for handling and leadering
Shorter top-shots give you more direct connection and maximize braid capacity. Longer top-shots give you more stretch and a larger “working section” of mono that can take abrasion and sun exposure before you need to replace it.
That’s why this is such a good comment question: people run wildly different lengths based on what they’re doing, and it’s useful for everyone to compare.
🔥 SMALL DETAILS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
Even if you don’t consider yourself a “rigging nerd,” the small details matter when you’re splicing and building big-game setups:
✅ Keep everything clean and organized (mess leads to mistakes)
✅ Use the right hollow core size for the mono you’re inserting
✅ Make sure your insertion length is long enough for the load you’ll be putting it under
✅ Smooth transitions = better line travel and less wear
✅ Build it the same way every time so your results are consistent
This is why videos like Pauly’s are valuable. You can read about this stuff all day, but watching someone do it cleanly makes it click.
🎥 WHO THIS VIDEO IS FOR
If you’re running 80 wides—or moving toward that class of gear—this is a foundational rigging skill. It’s for:
🎣 Tuna guys who want a system that holds under heavy drag
🧿 Marlin anglers who want clean line travel and solid connections
⚔️ Swordfish crews that need reliability when the bite finally happens
🛥️ Anyone building serious offshore tackle and wanting to eliminate weak links
And even if you don’t fish 80s yet, learning this now makes every future setup easier.
👇 COMMENT BELOW
What are you running for your top-shot length on your 80Ws?
Also—are you splicing hollow core to mono, or still tying knots?
#FishingVesselSpotter #PaulyLuwaii #biggamefishing #hollowcore #topshot #monofilament #80wide #offshorefishing #tuna #marlin #fishingrigging.
Shrimp are one of the most effective and versatile baits you can use for inshore fishing. Whether you are fishing flats, bridges, docks, or deeper channels, shrimp consistently produce bites from a wide range of species.
There is an old saying in fishing: “Elephants eat peanuts.” In other words, even the biggest fish will eat small, natural prey. Shrimp perfectly fit that role. When you cast a live shrimp, you are presenting something that almost every inshore predator recognizes as food.
It is not uncommon to catch everything from a 4-inch pinfish to a 200-pound tarpon on the exact same bait.
This is what makes shrimp one of the most powerful tools in any angler’s arsenal.
Shrimp are a foundational food source in coastal ecosystems. Almost every inshore species feeds on them at some point.
Here is why they are so effective:
Unlike artificial lures, shrimp do not need to “convince” fish to bite. Fish already know what they are.
Live shrimp are widely available, especially in the southeastern United States and along the Gulf Coast.
Most bait and tackle shops south of Virginia—or in any Gulf of Mexico state—carry live shrimp when in season.
Many bait shops offer “handpicked” shrimp for an additional cost.
These are:
If you are going after species like snook, tarpon, or large redfish, paying extra for handpicked shrimp is usually worth it.
Shrimp size and availability change throughout the year.
Understanding this helps you adjust expectations and strategy.
You do not need a commercial shrimp boat to catch your own bait. In many areas, shrimp can be caught from shore, bridges, or small boats if conditions are right.
Shrimp often move with the tide and can be found near the surface during these periods.
Dip nets are one of the simplest ways to catch shrimp.
Where to use them:
How it works:
This method is especially effective at night when shrimp are attracted to light.
Cast nets allow you to cover more water and catch multiple shrimp at once.
Best areas:
Technique:
This is one of the most efficient ways to gather bait quickly.
Shrimp often hide in seagrass beds during the day.
How to do it:
This method requires more effort but can produce consistent results.
Keeping shrimp alive is critical. A lively shrimp catches more fish.
Healthy shrimp are active, transparent, and responsive.
The way you hook a shrimp directly affects how it moves in the water.
Different rigging methods create different actions, allowing you to match the behavior to the fish you are targeting.
Head hooking allows the shrimp to move naturally and aggressively.
How to do it:
What it does:
Best for:
This is one of the most common and effective ways to rig shrimp.
Tail hooking changes the shrimp’s movement completely.
How to do it:
What it does:
Best for:
This method is ideal for sight fishing or targeting more cautious fish.
Shrimp can be fished in multiple ways depending on conditions.
No weight, no float.
Using a popping cork or float:
Great for:
Using a small weight:
Great for:
One of the biggest advantages of shrimp is how many species they attract.
Here is a wide range of fish you can catch:
And many more.
This list highlights just how universal shrimp are as bait.
Shrimp are not always the only option, but they are often the safest choice.
Use shrimp when:
Shrimp remove a lot of guesswork.
Shrimp are one of the few baits that truly work for almost everything.
They simplify fishing.
Instead of trying to perfectly match a lure to a situation, you are using something fish already trust and hunt daily.
Whether you are fishing from a dock, wading a flat, or targeting trophy fish, shrimp give you a reliable, high-performance option.
If you had to choose one bait to fish with for the rest of your life inshore, shrimp would be at the top of that list.
We put this article together for fishermen who are looking to invest in camera gear to take better fishing pictures. I
days it was all about what fish you had on the dock. Nowadays many fishermen show off their releed fish using social media such as instagram and facebook, youtube and by blogging on the . Photography is not rocket science at least for the photographer. This is becoming more and more true as advance technologies make our cames better and better!
Fishing is notctly a camera friendly environment. If you are on land there is sand to worry about. Offsho
re there salt water spray threatens to corrode your camera equipment. Since most of the best cameras are not water proof. If you are going to invest in a good camera you should also invest in some good camera protection.Below is a video of what one of these cases looks like and it explains every single feature. The video was excellently put together by "AFK Technolog
Many fishermen have been getting into filming with drones and have gotten some epic footage. Actually some people have been using their drones to do the actual fishing. Most drones are not water proof. Even if they are most are not scratch proof. Pelican makes cases for drones as well.
You don't need a fancy DSLR camera to get awesome fishing pictures. Some anglers have found water proof cameras excellent to Take bother underwater pictures and videos. Nowadays the newest smartphones are also waterproof. There are excellent innovations for fishermen.
Fujifilm makes an excellent waterproof camera for just $129.99. Skip all of the equipment ^^^ and jump straight into the water with this thing. below is a video posted by "Kevin Breeze that does a full review for this Camera:
Fujifilm makes an excellent waterproof camera for just $129.99!
Ditch the hunky DSLR camera for an excellent point and shoot camera. Nowadays these cameras can shoot both pictures and videos and you can stick them in your pocket.
Sony makes an excellent camera with 18.2 megapixels and 30X zoom. Below is a video review of this camera put together by "Gauging Gadgets". We have rated this camera as the BEST CAMERA FOR YOUTUBERS & BLOGGERS.
We have rated this camera as the best camera for fishing Youtubers + Bloggers
Nowadays smart phones are literally surpassing most cameras in their capabilities. The latests Samsung phones and Iphones have insane picture taking abilities.
With Apps Like Instagram You Have Photoshop Like Filters Already Built Into The App
Many photographers spend hours looking at lighting levels in photoshop to come up with the perfect look for your photo. Now all you have to do is literally to scroll through filters.
Some Phones Take 4K Video
The best phones out there are taking 4K video. Yea they literally can take the best quality video that Youtube accepts. Just good luck getting a file that large off of your phone.
You Can Supe Up Your Phone To Act Like High Performing Camera Gear
Accessories like this 4 axis handle gimbal stabilizer can help you capture movie quality video with your phone. Insane huh? This thing is only $99!
Below is a video review put together by Youtuber "Curtis Judd".
This gimball literally turns your phone into a movie quality camera for only $99.00.
If you are fishing for fish at night. If is often hard to get a good picture or video. Light that sucker up!
Check out the lightpack! Below is a video posted by Youtuber "Indy Mogul" on the Sunpak.
Light it up for only 15 bucks!
Key Topics Covered in This Article Ways to work with Colby Uva to grow marine business online DIY growth via Gumroad templates, chec...