Fishing Supplies Store

Over the years there have been countless occasions when prospective anglers have approached me at the dock in Ocean City, MD for tips as to where and how to catch bluefin tuna. Tournament time aside I typically share the information hoping that anglers will return the favor in the future. For the first time in print I am sharing many of details that are critical to one's success when fishing for bluefin tuna.

WHERE: There is no single answer to this question because from week to week and certainly season to season in Ocean City, MD the answer changes. For the most part the bluefin migrate through the same Ocean City, MD areas each year. How long they stay is anyone's guess and depends primarily on the amount of baitfish and sand eels present. Off the coast of Ocean City the fish typically hang near the bottom beneath the thermocline on structured mounds like the hambone, chicken bone and hot dog lumps unless enticed upwards by bait.

TACKLE: We recommend 80 wide 2 speed reels with 100 pound test monofilament line or a combimation of monofilament line and braided backing. We recommend that you set the drag at strike to 24 pounds using a drag scale. Also take a piece of tape and mark where the drag meets 14 pounds. We recommend a trolling rod at least 7 feet in length which ensures it will extend over the transom when placed in the fighting chair gimbal. We recommend using oversized guides, such as Aftco big foot guides, to ensure wind on swivels pass easily through the guides and stripper. We recommend 200 pound wind on Spro swivels not the heavy duty version but the regular barrel swivel as the heavy duty version has been known to cut leaders. We recommend a 20 foot 130 pound flurocarbon leader. If your not inclined to pony up the extra dollars for the flourocarbon then our second choice is momoi white diamond unless of course your looking to set a IGFA line class record. When assembling the leader do not tie knots but rather crimp all connections. On the terminal side create 2 offshore loops, one on the main line and one on the leader. Cinch the offshore loops tight enough such that the loop is no larger than the diameter of your wind on swivel. Use 2 crimps on each side leaving 2 inches in between crimps to ensure the line can bend across the roller guides. On the hook end also use a least 1 crimp with chafing gear and a 3/4 ounce chin weight. We recommend a 10/0 Oner Jobu hook as they won't rust,bend or break. As for the lure we use 2oz tuna busters made by carolina lures. Our favorite is blue and white with a white head although pink and white and pink and blue also work well. For bait we use a horse or super horse ballythoo that have been brined, limbered, and had their eyeballs removed. We use malin rigging wire to secure the hook and close the ballyhoo's mouth preventing wash outs.

HOW: Now your ready to deploy and here's where it get's interesting. You want to send your baits back a minimum of 300 yards. Yes that's right 300 yards not feet. We call this WWB way way back fishing and this is the secret to catching bluefin as over the years the bluefin tuna in Ocean City, MD have become boat shy. Don't even waste time deploying flat lines and short rigger lines. 2 outside rigger lines at 300 yards, a shotgun at 240 yards and subsurface planner rod also around 300 yards will be plenty. When you put the rod in the holder do not set it at strike but rather set it to14 pounds using the pre-marked tape. Why? Because given the decreased diameter of the spool the drag at 300 yards behind your boat is closer to 36 lbs than 24. Only after the fish has completed its first run should you place the lever at strike. The appropriate boat speed is anywhere between 4.5 and 5.5 knots depending on sea conditions, current and boat direction. Once the fish is close to the boat ease off on the drag slightly. When gaffing the fish be sure to gaff it in the head. Also be sure to ice and bleed any fish you plan to keep. For more information please check out our fishing reports and web site links below.

Tight Lines,

Captain Greg
Ocean City Fishing Report
Reel Addiction Charters LLC

Stingray at Dubai Marina

JDS "CENTERLINE FISH RUB. SCALE DRAG REAR WHEELS+NEW LOOK ASSORTED 17'' FRONTS $24.00

JDS "STAR CONVO".300w FISH RUBB.SCALE DRAG REAR WHEELS+NEW LOOK ASS.3/4'' FRONTS $23.99

Fishing Scales up to 55lb rust proof heavy duty and setting drag on game reels $24.61

ProFish Big Game Fishing EZ Set Drag Scale 25lb $14.99

Drag Scale 50 lb. $89.99 Drag Scale 50 lb. Chatillon Drag Scales. Setting the drags is one of the most critical activities while preparing to fish a tournament. A poorly set drag can easily be the difference between a big win or massive disappointment. For you, Melton offers the finest precision drag scale made in the USA. Solid marine grade brass construction will hold up to the corrosive elements associated with big game fishing. MRP indicator shows max reading when setting your drag.

Drag Scale 100 lb. $159.99 Drag Scale 100 lb. Chatillon Drag Scales. Setting the drags is one of the most critical activities while preparing to fish a tournament. A poorly set drag can easily be the difference between a big win or massive disappointment. For you, Melton offers the finest precision drag scale made in the USA. Solid marine grade brass construction will hold up to the corrosive elements associated with big game fishing. MRP indicator shows max reading when setting your drag.

Drag Scale 15 lb. $89.99 Drag Scale 15 lb. Chatillon Drag Scales. Setting the drags is one of the most critical activities while preparing to fish a tournament. A poorly set drag can easily be the difference between a big win or massive disappointment. For you, Melton offers the finest precision drag scale made in the USA. Solid marine grade brass construction will hold up to the corrosive elements associated with big game fishing. MRP indicator shows max reading when setting your drag.

Fishing with a Drag Net $19.99 J. Gardner Wilkinson Fishing with a Drag Net - Premium Poster

Fishermen Drag a Boat Out of the Water after a Day's Fishing $39.99 Robert Sisson Fishermen Drag a Boat Out of the Water after a Day's Fishing - Photographic Print

Fishing with a Drag Net 24x36 Giclee $72.56 Series: Ancient EgyptArtist: J. Gardner WilkinsonPeriod: Source country: BritainSource Year: 187824 inch by 36 inch Giclee print on standard paper.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Buyenlarge 150076P2030 Fishing with a Drag Net 20x30 poster $31.73 Series: Ancient Egypt. Artist: J. Gardner Wilkinson. Period:. Source country: Britain. Source Year: 1878. 20inch by 30 inch poster print on standard paper. All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results. This item takes 59 businessdays to ship

Fishing with a Drag Net 28x42 Giclee On Canvas $428.79 Series: Ancient EgyptArtist: J. Gardner WilkinsonPeriod: Source country: BritainSource Year: 187828 inch by 42 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Fishing with a Drag Net 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Ancient EgyptArtist: J. Gardner WilkinsonPeriod: Source country: BritainSource Year: 187812 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Commercial Fishing $68.51 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Commercial fishing is the activity of capturing fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions. Large scale commercial fishing is also known as industrial fishing. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 80 Publication Date: 2010/09/10 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.19 inches

HWS-24ULSC Hardwater Ice Fishing Combo $10.94 HWS-24ULSC Hardwater Ice Fishing Combo It's lightweight and graphite reinforced. Equipped with bail roller and front drag. 24" Hardwater rod with red blank. Light Action.

HWS-24MSC Hardwater Ice Fishing Combo $10.94 HWS-24MSC Hardwater Ice Fishing Combo It's lightweight and graphite reinforced. Equipped with bail roller and front drag. 24" Hardwater rod with red blank. Medium Action.

Super Drag Zinger Model Kit $12.99 Here come the zingers! This super drag zinger model kit is a wild little vehicle with a huge motor and wheels! Perfect for young modelers and irresistible to veteran collectors, the zingers pack a huge punch in a small package. Featuring many chrome details, these easy to assemble kits look fantastic when built and, for the first time ever, will come with decals for decorating the bodies. Molded in white and black with chrome plated parts. Approximately 1:32 scale bodies with 1:20 scale motors and wheels. This skill level 2 model kit is for ages 10 and up. Glue assembly and paint required. Order yours today!

Shakespeare Tidewater SS Spinning Multi-Disc Drag System Fishing Reel - 60 Size $39.99 Shakespeare Tidewater SS Spinning Reel is made from 4 stainless steel ball bearings for easy smooth casting. Machined and anodized aluminum spool for strength and durability. Features corrosion-resistant metal side cover and rotor. Corrosion resistant materials made of stainless steel components. With an oversized anti-twist line roller, this powerful multi-disc drag system reel will give you all you need for fishing. Always-on anti-reverse. Left/right convertible fold down handle. Made in the USA.

12 X 23 Low Drag Buoy $51.94 12" X 23" Low Drag Buoy Designed for a specific use, but versatile for many applications Developed for the commercial fishing industry, the LD (low drag) buoy was created for making the retrieval of crab pots in heavy seas faster and safer At 8 knots, the LD buoy has 1/6 the drag of a round buoy Eases the strain of a tough job on crew and gear Useful as a wide overhang fender, or as a marker or mooring buoy - especially in high tidal current situations where its low drag characteristics really come into play Sits higher in the water than a comparable round buoy, making it more visible

14 X 30 Low Drag Buoy $78.94 14" X 30" Low Drag Buoy Designed for a specific use, but versatile for many applications Developed for the commercial fishing industry, the LD (low drag) buoy was created for making the retrieval of crab pots in heavy seas faster and safer At 8 knots, the LD buoy has 1/6 the drag of a round buoy Eases the strain of a tough job on crew and gear Useful as a wide overhang fender, or as a marker or mooring buoy - especially in high tidal current situations where its low drag characteristics really come into play Sits higher in the water than a comparable round buoy, making it more visible

Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 150' $27.94 Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 150' 175lb TestLow Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line150'Braided line offers the ultimate in strength, consistency and durability. Made with Premium Spectra Braided Downrigger line. Use of braided downrigger line helps combat electrolysis around your fishing gear.Coastlock Snap and Soft Stop Bumber included

Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 200' $30.94 Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 200' 175lb TestLow Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line200'Braided line offers the ultimate in strength, consistency and durability. Made with Premium Spectra Braided Downrigger line. Use of braided downrigger line helps combat electrolysis around your fishing gear.Coastlock Snap and Soft Stop Bumber included

Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 300' $39.94 Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 300' 175lb TestLow Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line300'Braided line offers the ultimate in strength, consistency and durability. Made with Premium Spectra Braided Downrigger line. Use of braided downrigger line helps combat electrolysis around your fishing gear.Coastlock Snap and Soft Stop Bumber included

Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 400' $51.94 Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 400' 175lb TestLow Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line400'Braided line offers the ultimate in strength, consistency and durability. Made with Premium Spectra Braided Downrigger line. Use of braided downrigger line helps combat electrolysis around your fishing gear.Coastlock Snap and Soft Stop Bumber included

Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 500' $53.94 Low Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line 500' 175lb TestLow Drag Premium Braided Downrigger Line500'Braided line offers the ultimate in strength, consistency and durability. Made with Premium Spectra Braided Downrigger line. Use of braided downrigger line helps combat electrolysis around your fishing gear.Coastlock Snap and Soft Stop Bumber included

Supply Spring Scale 50 lb. $24.99 Supply Spring Scale 50 lb. Weston's Spring Scales are great for weighing catch or setting drag. Features include: Anodized aluminum body, Stainless steel spring and hook, Non-slip grip, and Sliding indicator marks peak weight.

Supply Spring Scale 100 lb. $34.99 Supply Spring Scale 100 lb. Weston's Spring Scales are great for weighing catch or setting drag. Features include: Anodized aluminum body, Stainless steel spring and hook, Non-slip grip, and Sliding indicator marks peak weight.