Tactics & Tackle - Tuna Slugger

Over the last 40 years, captain Pete Rose (no, not that Pete Rose) has garnered a reputation for putting up huge stats with his yellowfin tuna catches off Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. He credits much of his success to an innovative ballyhoo trolling rig he created to prevent short strikes. I call it the Grand Bahama Slugger. It's a quick rig""Rose can finish it in under a minute by our stopwatch""and, trust me, it's deadly.

Here's how to rig the Grand Bahama Slugger for 30-pound tackle:

1. Use a clinch knot to tie a 5/0 hook to five feet of 50-pound-test fluorocarbon leader, and knot a No. 32 rubber band onto the leader, several inches above the hook. To knot the rubber band, lay it across the leader and then pull one end through the loop of the other end and cinch it tight. The rubber band slides on the line so it adjusts to fit nearly any bait. Rose prefers a medium ballyhoo.