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You would be hard-pressed to find another destination in the USA that provides anglers with a more fantastic opportunity to catch yellowfin, blackfin, and bluefin tuna year-round. The bottom line is that deep-sea anglers catch more yellowfin tuna off the coast of Venice, Louisiana than anywhere else in the world. Paradise Outfitters is one of the top tuna fishing charters in Louisiana.
Offering full day and overnight trips, Paradise Outfitters is a full-time professional Venice, LA Tuna Fishing Charter specializing in putting their customers on schools of yellowfin and blackfin tuna.
Tuna fishing in Venice, LA is an experience unlike any other and is a real test of strength and endurance. In the Gulf of Mexico, anglers can reel in yellowfin tuna that weigh over 200 pounds. So prepare for battle and expect to test your might on a tuna fishing charter with Paradise Outfitters.
Yellowfin tuna is a species of albacore and is also known as “ahi tuna.” Although Yellowfin Tuna is not the largest of the tuna species, some yellowfin have weighed in at over 350 pounds in some cases. This is the same size as an Atlantic bluefin tuna.
No matter the size, Yellowfin tuna has a reputation for its incredible strength. Rivaling the leviathan Pacific Blue Fin tunas, reaching 1,000 pounds.
Yellowfin Tuna is a fast and powerful fish found anywhere from the Gulf of Mexico to Hawaii, often traveling in large schools close to the surface where they hunt actively for food. Fishing for yellowfins in Venice, LA, is a challenge in and of itself as these fish fight hard for their freedom and are unwavering in their endurance.
Most yellowfin tuna caught in Venice, LA are between 20 and 60lbs, but larger fish come into the area in the winter and fall months. Captain Scott Leger of Paradise Outfitters holds the current Louisiana State Record for Yellowfin Tuna – 240lbs. Captain Leger is a tremendously experienced fishing guide at honing in on these giant fish with precision.
Casting topwater lures to tunas that are aggressively feeding on the surface is an unparalleled thrill in the world of sport-fishing. Tuna’s which actively feed on surface baits are ferociously powerful. This fishing style requires long-distance casting and rapid retrieval of large lures – making use of heavy-duty spinning tackle which can withstand immense pressure. Many tunas caught at the surface weigh in excess of 100 lbs. Watching tunas breach the surface and launch several feet into the air is an incredible experience.
The traditional style of creating a “chum line” of chunk baits is commonly used around oil rigs, pumping stations, and drillships to attract tunas. Essentially, this is “handlining” for tunas, which requires the angler to pull 3 to 4-foot segments of line off the reel at a time, allowing the rigged bait to float with the current. This technique requires some practice but is incredibly effective when fish are feeding in the top level of the water column.
Tried and true, trolling for tunas requires deploying artificial or rigged dead baits and dragging them behind the boat. This can be a highly effective method for enticing large tunas to bite but is usually not employed when fishing around oil rigs or pumping stations. Occasionally, slow trolling live baits that are specially bridled can produce bites when tunas are not actively feeding.
This is the preferred method for catching larger tunas. Mullet, pogies, threadfin herring, hardtails, and small tunas are exceptional live baits when properly rigged. There is no more effective technique to entice a tuna to feed than by presenting a frisky live bait at the surface. Catching live bait, depending on the time of year, can be a “must” before heading offshore.
The most physically demanding of all fishing techniques, vertical jigging requires the use of heavy lead jigs that are specifically designed to sink fast and reach fish several hundred feet down. The angler must rapidly retrieve the jig while creating a “fluttering” motion with the rod – this mimics the behavior of a bait fish fleeing to the surface. Vertical Jigging can be the most effective method for catching fish that are holding tight to structure, deep beneath the waves.
Tuna are a highly migratory species that travels to find food. Tunas can be found near pumping stations, floating oil rigs, and patrolling the open ocean for schools of bait.
There are several tuna seasons in Venice, LA. However, Venice is a year-round fishery. The best time to catch a giant tuna is early fall and early spring are considered
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