Anglers are always on the lookout for ways to get more bites. If you are targeting big game species such as marlin and larger tuna, you will benefit from using larger live bait, like juvenile and smaller tuna. So having tuna tubes installed on your sportfishing charter will be necessary.
Tuna tubes are accessories found on boats to keep juvenile or small tuna alive for longer. This is so that they can later be used as live bait. Named after the type of live bait that they house, tuna tubes are usually designed for 1-3 pound bonito, skipjack tuna and blackfin tuna. In order to keep them alive, there is no more convenient way than using a tuna tube.
How do tuna tubes work?
Most of the smaller species that are used for live bait are able to extract oxygen from the water. However, tuna are different. This is because they breathe with ram ventilation, meaning they require a constant flow of water over their gills to remain oxygenated. In order to keep the tuna alive, water needs to be forced over their gills. Placing the tuna heads down and passing a steady flow of seawater, mimics the process of oxygenation they get through swimming. This is all while remaining static in these vertical tubes.
Typically, tuna tubes are white on the outside. This helps to reflect the tropical light and heat so that the tubes don’t heat up and the water passing through remains the same as the ocean. The interior is usually black, which is thought to be calming for the tuna.
What to do when catching your live bait
Once you catch your live bait, handle the tuna gently by using a de-hooker. Then aim to place them in the tuna tube as fast as you can. You must always place the tuna heads down.
If you are looking for a sportfishing charter in Panama equipped with tuna tubes, we have you sorted. Check out our fishing packages, email us at panamanauticalclub@gmail.com or call +1 800 507 1246 for more info on availabilities for your next fishing adventure.
