Trolling a Cedar Plug for Blackfin Tuna: Rigging, Speed and Where to Run It

Cedar plug trolling for blackfin tuna comes down to three things: a plug rigged on fluorocarbon so the hook rides at the back of the wood, a speed of roughly 6 to 8 knots, and the plug placed in a clean spot in the wake, usually way back on the shotgun or tucked into the white water off the transom. Run that over a hump, a ledge or a weedline with birds working, and you will catch blackfin on one of the cheapest lures in the tackle box.

Why the cedar plug still catches

A cedar plug does nothing fancy. It has no skirt and no action to speak of. It just swims a tight, slightly wobbling line just under the surface, looking like a small baitfish in a hurry. That is exactly what a blackfin is hunting.

Tuna are visual feeders that eat small, fast things. Big flashy lures pull in mahi and wahoo, but blackfin often pass them by and crush the little piece of wood running down the middle. On a slow day the plug is often the only rod that goes off.

When and where blackfin show up

Blackfin are around Florida most of the year, but the best fishing on the Atlantic side tends to run from late fall into winter, when the fish push in along the edge of the Gulf Stream. In the Gulf, the humps, ledges and rigs well offshore of the Panhandle and the Big Bend hold fish through the cooler months. Our winter fishing guide covers what else is biting while you are out there.

Look for:

• Humps and ledges where current pushes up against structure and stacks bait.
• Color changes and current edges, especially along the western wall of the Stream.
• Birds working low and fast. Terns picking at the surface often mean tuna underneath.
• Shrimp boats culling bycatch in the Gulf, which draw blackfin from a long way off.

First light is the best window, as with nearly everything offshore.

How to rig a cedar plug

Rigging a cedar plug takes about two minutes. The wood has a hole straight through the middle and a lead head on the front.

1. Cut 6 to 10 feet of fluorocarbon leader. For blackfin, 40 to 60lb is the usual range; go lighter in clear water when the fish are picky, heavier if wahoo or big kings are around.
2. Run the leader in through the nose of the plug and out the back.
3. Tie or crimp on a single hook so that, when you pull the leader tight, the hook's eye seats up into the back of the plug and the point rides just behind the wood. A bead between the hook and plug helps protect the knot.
4. Tie a loop or a swivel on the other end to connect to your main line.

The single most common mistake is a hook that slides back down the leader. If the plug and hook separate, the plug spins and the fish short-strike. Seat the hook snug against the wood.

Our 4 inch cedar plug is the go-to size for blackfin and the one to run when the bait is small. The 6 inch cedar plug is the better pick when bigger bait is around or you are expecting the occasional yellowfin or wahoo. Bring both; tuna can be fussy about size on any given morning.

Fluorocarbon or wire?

Fluorocarbon. Blackfin have good eyes and will turn away from wire in clear offshore water. The trade is that you will lose the odd plug to a wahoo or king. If toothy fish are tearing up your spread, switch one rod to a short wire trace and leave the plug rods on fluoro. Our leader guide goes into that decision in more detail. We carry Nautix fluorocarbon in 40, 50 and 60lb, which covers all of it.

Trolling speed for tuna

Run between 6 and 8 knots. That is quicker than most people expect, and a lot quicker than slow-trolling live bait for kingfish.

A cedar plug and a feather both look right across that whole range, and the speed lets you cover water while you look for fish. Watch the plug: it should swim just under the surface and leave a thin bubble trail. If it is skipping and breaking out of the water, slow down or let it out further. If it looks lifeless and sinking, push the throttle up a little.

When you mark fish or get a knockdown, do not stop the boat. Blackfin often travel in schools, and keeping the other lures moving is how you get a double.

Where to run each lure in the spread

You do not need a twelve-rod spread to catch blackfin. Four or five lines with outriggers, or three without, is plenty. Here is a simple setup that works:

• Shotgun (way back, down the center): the 4 inch cedar plug. Long and clean, out past the noise of the wake. This is often the rod that gets bit.
• Short corners (in the prop wash): a second cedar plug or a 6 inch Mahi Feather in blue/white. Tuna are not afraid of the boat and will eat close in the white water.
• Long riggers or long flat lines: a skirted lure like the Island Lure Shorty or a 9in Abyssal Slant trolling lure. These make more commotion, draw fish up into the spread, and pick off any mahi or wahoo along the way.

Put every lure on a clean wave, either on the face or just past a crest, so it is visible and swimming instead of tumbling in white water. Stagger the distances so nothing crosses on a turn.

Colors

Keep it simple. Natural or bare wood on the cedar plug, blue/white or pink in bright sun and clear water, and dark colors such as purple/black or red/black in low light or off-color water. If one color gets bit twice, swap another rod over to it.

Hooking and fighting blackfin

Blackfin usually hook themselves at trolling speed. When a rod goes off, keep the boat moving for a few seconds to see if another one hits, then slow and clear the other lines.

A moderate drag is plenty. These fish make a hard first run, then circle deep under the boat. Keep steady pressure and short-pump them up. A gaff or a big landing net finishes the job.

Before you keep any fish, check the current rules. Blackfin regulations can differ between state and federal waters and they change, so check FWC's saltwater regulations and NOAA Fisheries for federal waters before you go.

Gear for this

• 4 inch Cedar Plug
• 6 inch Cedar Plug
• Mahi Feather 6" Blue/White
• Island Lure Shorty Blue/White
• 9in Abyssal Slant Trolling Lure, Deep Ocean Blue
• 50lb Nautix Fluorocarbon (also in 40lb and 60lb)

FAQ

What size cedar plug is best for blackfin tuna?

A 4 inch plug is the standard for blackfin and matches the small bait they usually feed on. Move up to a 6 inch plug when the bait is bigger or when yellowfin and wahoo are possible.

How fast should you troll for blackfin tuna?

Roughly 6 to 8 knots. Adjust until the lure swims just under the surface without skipping out of the water.

Should a cedar plug be painted or natural?

Both catch fish. Bare natural wood is the classic and works in most conditions. Darker colors are worth a try in low light or murky water.

Can you troll a cedar plug for other fish?

Yes. Mahi, bonito, skipjack, kingfish and wahoo all eat them. If toothy fish keep cutting you off, run a short piece of wire on one plug rod.

What is the best leader for a cedar plug?

Fluorocarbon in the 40 to 60lb range, 6 to 10 feet long. It is harder for tuna to see than mono and far less visible than wire.