Does anyone ever try topwater plugs for them? If you can catch them off a kite, why not on topwater? Just let the current take them out past the lights and give a pop or two.

Blackfins are readily caught on topwaters. And usually when kite fishing is involved the intended target is Yellowfin not Blackfin.

Not a lot of folks that I know want to throw topwaters for Blackfins when they are trying to catch Yellowfins.

If you are fishing inshore around shrimpers and trying to catch Blackfins they will also hit topwaters there too.

Yes...

If you are ever out on the Floaters just before sunrise the Blackfin go Ape Scat and will hit just about anything that moves. The Bass Pro Shops Z-Pop in Sardine or the Red Head pattern will get you all the Topwater action you ever want to see.

Absolutely- caught them on top water last weekend

topwater works for me.

Don't mean to hi-jack this thread but can someone explain to me why so many people almost talk like they are disappointed when they catch blackfin tuna? I understand that the yellowfin are larger and after frozen are better table fare but aren't the blackfins every bit as good as say an AJ? Guess I don't get it.

CD

Yes we all still love to catch and eat Black Fin but when we go 100+ miles off shore we are there expressly looking for Yellow Fin.. bigger/ more meat and better fight. Black fin have salvaged the meat haul on many a Tuna floater trip.

Bazz,
I for sure get why you would want the yellowfin on the trip. Kinda like going on a deer hunt and being upset cause there were 160 inch deer running everywhere and only killed one 200 inch deer to me. Just have heard on other boards, not this one, how guys are cranked cause the blackfin are almost a nuisance. Thats what I don't get. I'm all for bigger is better but some of us are happy to get to catch some smacks and kings with our pair of snaps and then these others are pi$$ed cause they caught 100 blackfins but only one or two yellowfins.

There is just no pleasing some folks... and there are a few Tuna Snobs that will not even take a bite of Tuna unless they know it's Yellow or Bluefin... to each their own.

I have a blast catching the Black Fins for chunk bait and have actually been asked to Stop catching them a few times. If I can get into the 20+ LB Blackfin I'm a happy camper. Heck at my age I'm happy to be out offshore fishing... any fish on my line are a bonus.

I can understand if you see 100+ Yellow fin thrashing the surface... and you put out a live flyer only to have a 15# Black fin pounce on it.. becomes quite a let down in that case. Been there and done that a few times. Last time I had sharks and cudas eating my live bait while the YFT thrashed about us.

That's fishing.

If I may, as Bazz said, the floater trips target YFT, and the time and cost reflects that. So catching YFT is the goal.
Folks can catch Blackies on 12 or under hour trips, and have full fledged blast catching them. Last 12 hour trip we worked on in '09 the boat ran out in snotty seas 4 hours, hit one shrimpboat, caught 45-50 Blackies and ran in nasty seas.
Matter fact, SonOne III in July is targeting Blackies, and if we don't find them, we will be a bit disappointed, but we'll catch other fish as you mentioned. There's always a chance (small) to find Yellows on the day trips, and that would be a huge bonus.
One of the coolest things to do is to pull up to a shrimpboat and throw some chum and see what comes up; tuna, big sharks, ling, Dorado, Marlin,(see the TFF TunaI trip in 2001), you never know.
Fishing for Yellows at the floaters and not catching them does disappoint, but if folks adapt and use smaller rigs the Blackies can keep fishermen busy and happy.
In my opinion, Blackies taste the same as Yellows, and grill up better. Thinner steaks and I like mine charred on the edges and warm red inside.

yum... no tuna snob here! i like it all! seared in pepper for 3 seconds per side or else raw(fresh). wasabi and soy dip for the sushi! A big blackie will wear you out... if they got as big as yellows, we would all have problems getting them to the boat! they are mean as heck, for thier size!

Nothing like getting a rookie hooked up on their first blackfin on boat gear, and then see what they do after decking the bugger.
Either they swear off tuna fishing (and swear at the fish) or they are hooked on fishing for tuna.

I see what you are saying TOO about targeting the yellowfins. I guess where I have read that people spend a thou on fuel and stuff to take their own boat to the floaters and are covere up with blackfin and only catch two yellows so they leave at midnight seems crazy to me. If I had run 135 miles out and was catching fish, be danged if I am running back home or heading somewhere to look for two snapper. Guess that is what kills me, I like blackfin as much or more than snapper and people gripe about only getting to keep two but same people will leave 100 fish nights because it is mostly blakfin. Sorry for the rant fellas. Thanks for enduring.