Spreader Bar Tuna Tactics

By Nick Honachefsky

Northeast canyon tuna gurus are notorious for deploying spreader bars to raise all species of the Thunnus subgenera; including yellowfin, bluefin and bigeye. Captain Craig Angelini of the Canyon Runner, Point Pleasant NJ, is a familiar name in the offshore community as the Canyon Runner always seems to find its way onto the winner boards at major offshore tournaments. Angelini talks a little about spreader bar tuna tactics that put him on top of the pack:

Spreader Bars smoke tuna

For starters, anglers have to start out by knowing which spreader bars to utilize and why. “It’s obvious to say match the hatch, but generally our bait to mimic revolves around squid, with the key being to pay attention to the size and color of the squid when selecting a spreader bar,” says Angelini. “If we are seeing the large, orangish squid at night, we’ll throw out the 9-inch pink/brown combo or red squids, otherwise if it’s a general pink size, then the 6-inch squids go out, usually in Bloomin’ Silver or Mini Mamba color patterns. The smaller squid work better too during the earlier part of the season in June and July.” If mackerel are the predominant bait, which may happen as well during the early part of the season, then Angelini will opt to throw larger 9-inch squids out on the bar. Tuna season generally runs from June through October in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Canyons, from the Hudson Canyon down through the Washington Canyon.

Water clarity also plays a big part in determining spreader selection. “When we get that clean and clear cobalt blue, I’ll go with brighter colors. Use the rainbow and yellow patterns in those crisp clean waters, but when the waters are a darker green, or bluish green, dial down to deep hued colors like electric green and deep blue or purple.”

Setting the spread, Angelini usually fishes no less than four spreader bars, one off each short and one of each long rigger on both port and starboard sides, then will put single intermediate lures such as Joe Shutes with ballyhoo or streaker style lures to fill in the blanks between bars so as to appear as straggler baitfish that are easy pickins for tuna. He also drags two single lures like cedar plugs or streakers off the flat lines. As a general rule, Angelini will always start out by dropping back the tried and true Green Machine bar down the middle of the spread. “Green machines seem to cut through the ocean better and won’t drift across the lines like squids tend to do after awhile.”

Generally, a 6-1/2 knot pace is an ideal standard speed to pull spreader bars, but if seas are glassy flat, bump it up to 7-1/2 to 8 knots. “When conditions are ultra clear and calm, you want to move the bars a lot faster to be able to trick tuna. If you troll at a 6-1/2 knot pace in clear conditions, the tuna won’t commit because they have that extra split second to see it and realize something’s not quite right. You can get away with moving slower in dirtier waters.” But trolling pace isn’t as important as to what your bars are actually doing according to Angelini. “Do not plow the spreader bars through the water. You want them hovering and slapping above, so whatever conditions dictate, adjust your pull accordingly to achieve that end.” Angelini likes to implement Green Machines with “average” conditions with a little chop and a little swell, but will switch up to bolt squid spreaders when conditions are too flat as they “dig in nice to really create a commotion.”

And if commotion is what its all about, Angelini also offers up some advice for Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Canyon anglers. “I notice that in the Hudson and Toms, we can pretty much keep all this advice status quo, but for some reason when we get around the southern canyons like the Washington and Baltimore, the tuna hits really start to become unorthodox. Tuna down there want to see the bars hopping out of the water, so to adjust, we pull the spreader bars on the outriggers tight to the boat with little slack so the bars are literally hopping in and out of the water. The outriggers are almost literally jigging the spreaders as they hop.”

Learn to choose the right spreader bar for various conditions, then implement their use effectively, and you’ll see your tuna tallies going off the charts.