Do I really have to travel so far to catch a tuna/Albacore on the fly I'm thinking to myself?

What about fly fishing for Tuna in the Canary Islands or for Albacore off Ireland. Is it happening?

I can't find much information (Compaired to the US East Coast) and wonder is that because the tuna migrating from Africa to Europe and back arn't in the same numbers, are too far off shore or we just haven't learn't when, where and how to catch them.

Amongst others with experience you may want to speak to Bonito, from the forum. I'm more than sure he will definitely answer your questions.

My Dad lives in Barcelona, Spain and one can catch bluefin tuna there quite well in April. I'm heading there this week; hope my #10 holds out...
One can also catch Bonito there but not Albacore.
I'm talking about these kind of fish in these sizes. (Not me, pictures from a local blog)

Bonito


Bluefin

Surely that bluefin is undersize for keeping, I'm not blaming you! Maybe it was released afterwards, but having been handled I don't give much for its chances.

Anyway, good to know there are some still around able to be caught.

Gibraltar, later in the year, gets plenty of small tuna, albacore and bonito. They are also starting to advertise as a short break fishing destination. I am heading out there in September to have a go for them. Only a couple of miles out. Surface blitzes at that time of year. Flights from about £40 each way. You don't need a car - it is actually more trouble than it is worth trying to get it parked and having to move it by 08.00 and then again later. We took our hire car back after 2 days (were there for a week!) and were glad to be shot of it. Cheap accommodation available in the heart of the old city. We stayed at the Canon Hotel, it is a bit shabby, but owned by ex pats and friendly. You can go more upmarket, but I know my place!

Wooooow, Crat!
That's really inpressive,I should say!
Thanks for sharing! Your catch is very cool, honestly!


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family tree maker free

I don't think either of those are bluefins, looking at the teeth and profile of the smaller fish it looks more like a Spanish Mackerel, the only tuna with teeth like that is a dogtooth and it's not a tuna as the shape is wrong. The larger fish is certainly a tuna but I don't think it's a bluefin, the photo is not clear enough to be sure of what it is, maybe a big eye.

It may not be generally known what big game potential the Iberian Penisular offers, particularly the Atlantic coast. I have a photo of a potential world record blue marlin taken off Vilamoura in Portugal, it wasn't claimed as the fish was too big for the scales and had to be cut up to be weighed.

All the Spanish and Portuguese offshore islands in the Atlantic have excellent big game fishing with several species available including wahoo, bluefin, marlin, bigeye, bonito and others.

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“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Your question reminded me of a report I'd heard of tuna fishing in the North Sea - last century.

There's an article about British tuna fishing here.

Hope it interests someone else, too.

Those bluefins disappeared for decades and then showed up again a few years ago on the west coast of Ireland where they come quite close in during September/October, the current record is 968lbs here it is:



There are also plenty of smaller tuna species in the Western Approaches but they usually need a long steam out but I think the Milford Haven shark boats have encountered a few.

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“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

I spent a week Sailing out of Grand Canaria.Peurto rico.Plenty of small tuna -Big tuna-Marlin.If you get there at the right time.Mid July onwards.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Afraid the smaller fish is a bonito and the larger is almost certainly an immature bluefin.Bonitos have teeth.Have white flesh good for ceviche'.Both will pull your string especially on a flyrod.

Best JP