Tuna & Wahoo
These members of the Scombridae family are widespread in temperate and tropical waters, and have considerable commercial importance as well as being important gamefish. The commercial value of tuna led to them being fished for with enormous driftnets, especially in the Pacific but not here in Malaysia, but use of these nets has been restricted by international agreements because they took a heavy toll not only of tuna but also of unsought-for species including dolphins, sunfish, billfish and Ray's bream.
FISHING NOTES
Techniques
Trolling with lures and drift fishing with natural baits are the usual methods of fishing for tuna, little tunny, and albacore. When fishing for wahoo, try trolling with lures and natural baits. Wahoo are usually taken on flatlines that are fished quite near to the boat, rather than lines on outriggers.
   Tackle
For tuna, use a 36.3 to 59 kg (80 to 130 lb) class rod with full roller rings, a level drag multiplier, and 36.3 to 59 kg (80 to 130 lb) nylon line with a 181 to 272 kg (400 to 600 lb) nylon leader. Use hook sizes 10/0 to 12/0, flat for trolling and offset for drifting. For wahoo, use the same class rod with a 6/0 star drag or 30- to 50-class multiplier reel, 13.6 to 22.7 kg (30 to 50 lb) nylon line with a heavy wire leader, and a flat hook size 5/0 to 10/0. However for smaller species, lighter rod is good enough (25 kg) here in Malaysia.
   Baits
Use a Kona Head lure when trolling for tuna, koyan pun boleh pakai, and try live mackerel or dead selayang/herring when drifting. When trolling for wahoo, use a Kona Head or other large artificial, or try a natural bait, such as a whole mullet or balao, mounted for trolling. For drift fishing, use a live baitfish on hook sizes 5/0 to 8/0.
Note: Bluefin Tuna & Wahoo
The bluefin tuna is a highly, migratory fish, which is found in subtropical seas during winter and moves into cooler waters in summer. Here in Malaysia, these species are available around the year. Bluefin of up to about 45 kg (100 lb) travel in huge schools, but larger fish form smaller schools and the biggest individuals are often solitary.

The long, slender-bodied wahoo makes tremendous runs with abrupt changes of direction when hooked, sometimes leaping from the water, and this makes it one of the most exciting fish to catch. Its long, heavily toothed jaws form a beaklike snout, and its first dorsal fin is long, low, and spinny. The average weight is about 6.8 to 9 kg (15 to 20 lb), but it can grow up to 83 kg (183 lb) and a length of 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in).