Top Tuna Fishing
Mustad originally introduced the world to production Tuna Circle Hooks in the 1970s, and the 39960D circle hook owns a reputation as the most dependable circle hook for catching monster fish. Kite fishing with Mustad 39960D 20/0 Circle Hooks is one of the hottest methods in the world for catching Big Yellowfin Tunas, called “Cows” by the Southern California Long Range Fleet. Captain Roy Rose has said that the size, shape and strength of the 39960D makes it nearly impossible for these big fish to escape as they are almost always hooked perfectly in the corner of the jaw, and the hooks never straighten or pull out.
The exciting report detailed below was written earlier this year on a single Long Range Fishing Trip on the world famous luxury fishing vessel Royal Polaris out of Fisherman’s Landing in San Diego, California. The results from this trip are but a handful of the many success stories realized every year as anglers venture out for that fish of their lifetime.
Bill Roecker for FishingVideos.com
& the San Diego Sportfishing Council
Based on Net Update January 17, 2009
 |
Roy Rose docked Royal Polaris January 17, after a 17 ½ day trip sponsored by Taka Tanaka, whose tackle shop is well-known in Anaheim, California. Roy’s assistance in the following story is acknowledged and welcomed by Bill Roecker, because Roy asked his anglers to assist in the recording of the catch. They each did so, at least all who caught cows, or tuna over 200 pounds. They forgot to include their hometowns, though, so apology is made for that missing piece of information, outside of the jackpot spots and Craig Drummond’s supercow. |
| That giant yellowfin weighed in at 318 pounds on the boat, culminating many years of a quest began by Craig back in 1957, when he started fishing on San Diego boats.
“He’s my first 300-pounder,” said Craig. “I’ve hooked two before. One got eaten by sharks at Clarion Island offshore, and the other took 600 yards of line and pulled the hook. “This one got to close color,” continued Drummond, “and he made at least 60 circles at the bow, and that’s where they gaffed him. “It was a slow pick. We fished in really long soaks, some of the baits were at least 200 yards out. At that distance it’s hard to feel the bait. The current was varied, and it started and stopped.” Craig’s tuna ate a flying fish under the kite, which made it ineligible for the jackpot. He said the bait was on a Mustad Tuna Circle Hook 39960D, size 20/0. He fished with 130-pou nd Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Shimano 80 W reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod. He also got a 212-pounder on a sardine, which he wrote was a one-hour back break. |
 Craig Drummond |
“We had good timing,” said Roy Rose. “We got to the bank and they were biting. They bit the sardines, some squid on the kite and flying fish, too. It was like a lake out there. We had no problems with sharks and the water was about 76 degrees.
“The tuna were all mixed on the bank,” continued Rose, “from 80 to 300 pounds, in schools of different sizes. We filled up and came home early.”
Steve Goto had a 269-pounder he bagged on a Mustad Tuna Circle Hook 39960D, size 20/0, on 130-pound Izorline Spectra, and Accurate 80 reel and a Calstar 765 H rod.
Susan Gentry bagged a brace of cows at 243 and 219 pounds, the first pair by a woman in years, likely. She wrote that she fished flying fish on the kite on Mustad Tuna Circle Hook 39960D, size 20/0. She used a 130-pound Izorline top shot and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 80 S reel and a Calstar 6460 XH rod.
Robert Maes took a 204-pounder with a flyer under the kite pinned to a Mustad Tuna Circle Hook 39960D, size 20/0. He said he used 130-pound Izor and 130-pound Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a custom Calstar 6465 rod by Taka.
Blake Pulford got a 224 and a 212-pounder. He fished a squid under the kite on a large Mustad 7691 hook. He used Izorline 130-pound mono and 130-pound Izor Spectra on an Avet 80 reel and a new Calstar 7470 XH rod from Taka.
John Corrigan caught a 218-pounder and a 202 on a squid and Mustad Tuna Circle Hook 39960D, size 20/0. He used 130-pound mono, he said, and a Calstar 6460 XH rod.
The trip’s total was 22 cows, including Drummond’s super cow of 318 pounds.
The trip’s total was 22 cows, including Drummond’s super cow of 318 pounds.