Popping is my uncle Badhurube’s favorite fishing method. As an expert lure maker and a specialist in GT and tuna, he says that the important thing while popping is patience and the right technique. He prefers slow-paced retrieval.
“After casting the popper, create a quick, hard pop, leaving a bubble trail in the water, then retrieve it slowly, making pauses (2 to 4 seconds). The fish will attack normally on the pause,” he explained to me. He insists that he believes slowly maneuvering the rod is the most effective way to hook yellowfin. But you can also vary the actions. Alternate between hard pops and straight retrieves with chugging action. The sound produced by the chugging action of the popper resembles that of a fish swallowing bait. He said this sound is very important to attract fish. Jerk the rod tip quickly to create splashes and commotion. You can also reel fast for several strokes, stopping, swinging the rod tip up, and then lowering as you reel again. If you spot a fish, adopt a more aggressive style.
He prefers full black poppers and reiterated that it is his favorite weapon. Pink and purple are also his favorites. He uses an 8’4” rod. He prefers a 60- to 80-lb braid with an 80- to 90-lb leader. Waves and wind should prevail for an award. Use stick baits and poppers. And while using swim bait, maneuver it with slow speed and slow pauses. According to my uncle, the splashes and sound created when retrieving the popper are the primary factors that attract fish.
Selecting the right conditions to cast a popper is the crucial first step. A calm ocean devoid of surface activity is unlikely to yield many bites. However, encountering surface explosions, bait on the surface, or tuna breaching warrants the use of a popper for optimal presentation. Set yourself up for success.
Directing the boat straight toward where the fish are breaking the surface risks spooking them. Hence, making a sufficiently long cast betters your chances of a strike. Position yourself on the bow or atop a casting platform to execute a forceful cast. Typically, more bites occur when the popper is far from the boat. Not only are fish less skittish at greater distances, but the retrieval and action of the lure are much more effective farther out due to line angle. You’re more likely to get bit 100 feet away compared to just 20 feet out.
Keep in mind, when targeting yellowfins with poppers, aggressively pop the lure, wait a few seconds for the bubble trail to clear, and repeat the tactic. Often the best popping opportunities would occur around midday, when the fish occasionally rise to the surface. Cast as far as you can, then take up slack before imparting a few short, aggressive pops, with one- to two-second intervals between the pops. OIt is often effective to perform two or three pops followed by a pause.They’ll crush the lure oduringthe pause.
