Tips & Technique
A Story of Crazy Fishermen, Chaos, Betrayal & Intrigue
All in the pursuit of catching Tuna.
Watch the true story of how fishermen behave like crazy people when the bite is on. Would you Queue up for half a day just to be "allowed" to buy 2 lures? Would you dress up in drag to buy fishing lures?
In this behind-the-scenes documentary, we dive into how a revolutionary design flipped the tuna fishing world upside down and sparked a retail frenzy like no other.
Meet the Mad Bunch
RIGGING
100LB Panderra 8X Braid
Built for brute strength and long-range trolling runs, Panderra 8X in 100LB offers ultra-thin diameter with extreme abrasion resistance. The tight braid profile cuts through water cleanly, maintains trolling depth, and gives you the confidence to lean hard on giants.
LEADER
A 50-foot 130LB mono wind-on provides critical stretch to absorb violent headshakes and sudden surges from big tuna. It also protects against chafing when the fish circles close under the boat. Wind-on leaders make for safer handling and smoother transitions through rod guides during the fight.
HOOK UPGRADE
Swap Rear Treble to BKK Viper 41 – 5/0 or 6/0
The BKK Viper 41 treble delivers unmatched strength and sharpness. Upgrading to a 5/0 or 6/0 enhances hook penetration and landing ratios on heavy fish. The 5/0 keeps action crisp for high-speed trolling, while the 6/0 adds brute force for oversized tuna.
FISHING
Troll Speed: 12–15 MPH
Rod 1 Send Back for 65 Seconds
Rod 2 Send Back for 55 Seconds
Creates a staggered presentation in the water column and distance, increasing the chance of a reaction strike.
Pro Tips
Use a stopwatch or your reel's clicker to count seconds as the Madmacs deploy. Drop them in free-spool and begin counting when the lure starts to track properly.
If you get bit, don’t stop the boat—keep trolling! This can trigger a second Bluefin to strike the other lure in your spread. Madmacs are notorious for generating doubles if the spread stays moving.
Set Drag Tight Before Deploying Lures
Your drag pressure should be very tight at strike—tight enough that the system is nearly immovable under heavy pressure. The best way to check this:
Wrap the wind-on leader around both hands and pull as hard as you can. The drag should barely budge under full-strength pressure.
Once Baits Are Set, Drop Drag 20%
After deploying your baits and getting up to trolling speed, back the lever drag down about 20%. This gives the system the necessary “give” during the initial impact of a strike. Bluefin often hit like freight trains, and this slight reduction helps prevent pulled hooks or snapped leaders.
LANDING
Keep the Boat in Gear for the Entire Fight
One of the most overlooked tactics: never take the boat out of gear. Maintain forward momentum (at slow speed) to keep pressure on the fish, avoid slack line, and guide the fight more predictably.
Let the Fish Kick Up to the Boat
When the tuna tires and begins to circle, a boat in gear helps bring the fish up cleanly. Forward movement prevents deep diving and erratic surges, making for a controlled final approach and safer gaff shot.
Madmacs 200 High Speed SNK 8"
Regular price
$49.99
The MADMACS 8" is a sinking super high speed trolling minnow capable of being trolled at speeds of up to 20kn when rigged correctly. We recommend trolling it at 6-12kn, but it goes fast if you want it to. Visit the Nomad Design YouTube Channel for details on rigging to achieve maximum speed. The Madmacs can also be trolled as slow as 5kn and has an amazing vibrating action even at very low speeds due to the Patented Autotune™ System. The Patented Autotune™ system also allows the Madmacs to always troll straight and to run perfectly with an amazing action at a huge range of speeds. The ability to troll at all speeds makes this a must have lure in every spread. The Madmacs will run at a depth of around 8-10ft when trolled at slower speeds and around 3-4ft depth when trolled super-fast.
Featuring a machine stamped stainless steel plate, and full body foam core construction of the Pat. Pending Body Design, it is one of the toughest lures available, and is up to any challenge. Fitted with super strong BKK hooks and Heavy Duty split rings, the Madmacs is ready for battle.
Designed and tested in Australia by the Nomad Design Team, drawing on decades of charter experience from the Nomad Sportfishing charter operation, each lure has been designed for a specific purpose, and has been balanced and tested to work perfectly with the chosen hooks.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
