b'Feature These are the areas where all the nutrients are pushed up the water column so subsequently there is intensified fish congregations and feeding. Using 37kg tackle is fine for SBTs and I hear many anglers catching and losing them on much lighter tackle such as 8kg or 15kg after hours of battle. If you had 24kg gear in good conditions, then this would be fine with most SBTs, and you would just need to take your time with the bigger feisty ones. Using 37kg makes it much easier on those larger stubborn ones. Also, be sure to have a strong flying gaff and another strong gaff to assist hoisting the big ones aboard.DEPTH The best SBT fishing is usually around 1000 - 1600m and they are also caught far deeper. They do come in a lot shallower and there has been days where 600 - 900m has fished very well but as a rule 1000m plus is the place to be.STRUCTURE There are a lot of deep-water Another solid tunaknolls, canyons, and structures up comes to the boatthe East Coast, off Waihau Bay off Waihau Bay, withand in the BOP. These are the angler getting a quick photo courtesy ofareas where all the nutrients are Pelagic Charters. pushed up the water column so subsequently there is intensified TACKLEthat reach 400kg+ so we want to befish congregations and feeding. Shimano Tiagra 80s on Shimanoready for that. We hooked such aThese are the hot spots where you Status rods, spooled with 60kghuge tuna on one trip that dwarfedwant to be for the SBTs.mono top shot with 60kg braidthe 148kg fish we had landed a few underneath. We have also caughtdays beforehand. Sadly, it pulledFOR GAME FISHING bluefin on Shimano Stellas whichthe hook after having it pinwheelCHARTERS VISIT:was a lot of fun. We use 60kg asright near the boat for around 45www.pelagiccharters.co.nzthere is always a chance of hookingminutes, but it is good to know a monstrous Pacific bluefin tunatheyre out there.48FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'