Popping & Casting for Yellowfin Tuna
While trolling, chunking, and even jigging are often the most popular techniques for targeting yellowfin tuna out in the bluewater, popping can also be extremely effective in certain situations. If the fish are situated at or near the surface and either bait crashing or structure is around, popping for yellowfin will be the way to go to put together a solid catch with some amazing visuals of tuna annihilating a topwater lure.
While conventional gear can be used for popping yellowfins, spinning gear is widely accepted as the norm. When looking for a spinning reel, line capacity, drag, and gear ratio are the most important factors to consider. A reel that checks all of the boxes for yellowfin less than 100lbs is the Shimano Stella 14000SWBXG. Capable of holding over 500 yards of 50lb Power Pro Maxcuatro, 55lbs of max drag, and a 6.2:1 gear ratio bringing in 53" of line for every turn of the handle, this reel is the best around. For larger tunas, the 1800SWBHG will hold more line but at a heavier overall weight. The Daiwa Saltiga 5000H and 6500H are also top tier options, while the Shimano Saragosa 10000 and 20000 are ideal budget minded reels with some serious capabilities.
As far as rods, there are great options from Black Hole Cape Cod Nano, OTI TS2, Shimano Terez 78H, and the Phenix Megalodon without going the custom route. Typical rod lengths vary between 7'6" and 8', which gives you the distance needed to hit a school of feeding tunas without getting too close with the boat. While popping rods are not usually the best for lifting a tuna from the depths, they still have enough backbone to put the heat on a fish if needed. A little forgiveness in the blank of the rod also goes a long way into transferring energy towards wearing out the fish rather than the angler, which can allow an angler to fight multiple fish throughout the day without as much fatigue as a rod that is much stiffer and less forgiving.
Since distance is crucial in this game, the connection between your mainline and leader is of extreme importance. Traditional knots can hang up on your guides, so either a low diameter knot like the PR, FG, and Sebile or even better a wind-on popping leader will help you achieve the distance you need.