When it comes to canyon yellowfin tuna fishing, having a spread that covers different zones of the water column while presenting multiple lure styles can make all the difference.
This is the exact trolling spread Capt. Brian Moskey of Flier Outdoors LLC uses when targeting yellowfin tuna offshore in the canyons. Designed around clean water presentation, surface commotion, and giving fish multiple looks, this setup has become a consistent producer throughout the season.
The Goal of the Spread
Yellowfin tuna are extremely pattern oriented.
Once you get into a school, there’s a good chance they’ll continue to target the same lure style, size, or color repeatedly. Because of that, Capt. Brian’s spread is designed to do one thing first:
Find the pattern quickly.
By mixing lure profiles, colors, and positions throughout the spread, this setup helps identify what the fish want before adjusting the entire spread around the bite.
How Capt. Brian Sets the Spread
Closest to the Boat
The 36″ Wingman Side Tracker® bar and the 36″ Sid Tracker® bar are positioned closest to the boat, roughly 20 yards behind the transom.
These bars act almost like a teaser or mini dredge, creating the appearance of a large school of bait tight to the boat.
Run Closest to the Boat:
- 36″ Side Tracker® w/ 9″ Machine Lures – Zucchini
- 36″ Wingman Side Tracker® w/ 9″ Floating Shell Squid – Purple
The Side Trackers widen naturally while still staying close enough to create a dense bait profile in the wash.
Short Riggers
Behind the close bars, Capt. Brian runs rigged Ballyhoo off the short riggers.
These act like trailing baitfish peeling off the school behind the teaser bars.
Short Rigger Baits:
- Ballyhoo – Purple & Black (Not Included)
- Ballyhoo – Red & White (Not Included)
This adds a more natural profile behind the aggressive teaser presentation.
Outside Riggers
On the outside riggers, Capt. Brian positions Side Trackers far outside the wake in clean water.
He typically starts with:
- one machine-style lure setup
- one bulb-style lure setup
This gives the fish multiple looks immediately.
Outside Rigger Bars:
- 19″ Side Tracker® w/ 9″ Machine Lures – Lemon Lime
- 24″ Wingman Side Tracker® w/ 9″ Floating Bulb Squid – Calamari
Corner Rods
Off the corners, Capt. Brian runs diving plugs approximately 15 yards behind the transom.
These plugs run deeper in the water column beneath the closer bars, creating another layer in the spread.
Corner Baits:
- Plug – Pink (Not Included)
- Plug – Blue (Not Included)
Center Riggers
Down the middle, Capt. Brian runs:
- a larger Super Splash Bar long
- a smaller Daisy Chain short
This creates both surface commotion and a natural trailing bait profile in the center lane.
Center Spread:
- 36″ Super Splash Bar w/ 9″ Machine Lures – Rainbow
- 9″ Chatter Machine Daisy Chain – Green
Why This Spread Works
This spread is designed to:
- Cover multiple zones behind the boat
- Mix lure styles and profiles
- Present both aggressive and natural looks
- Quickly identify feeding preferences
Some days yellowfin are locked onto:
- green colors
- bulb squid profiles
- machine-style lures
- tighter or wider presentations
Having multiple options in the water from the start makes it easier to identify the pattern quickly.
Why Backups Matter
One of the biggest lessons Capt. Brian emphasizes is having duplicate bars and colors ready to go.
When yellowfin lock into a specific lure, it’s critical to:
- repeat the exact color
- repeat the exact profile
- repeat the exact position in the spread
The faster you can duplicate what’s getting bit, the more fish you’ll put on deck.
Fish the Exact Spread
Want to run Capt. Brian’s exact canyon yellowfin setup?
We built this entire trolling spread into a ready-to-fish package featuring the same bars, chains, and lure combinations Capt. Brian relies on offshore.
✔ Proven canyon yellowfin setup
✔ Balanced spread with multiple lure profiles
✔ Designed to find the bite fast
✔ Built from real offshore experience
👉 Shop Capt. Brian Moskey’s Canyon Yellowfin Spread
About Capt. Brian Moskey & Flier Outdoors LLC
Capt. Brian Moskey is the owner of Flier Outdoors LLC, specializing in:
- Boat sales
- Boat management
- Captaining services
Capt. Brian works directly with anglers on their own boats, teaching them how to fish for:
- Inshore species
- Mid shore bluefin tuna
- Yellowfin tuna
- Bigeye tuna
- Swordfish in the canyons
Whether you’re learning your electronics, dialing in a trolling spread, or trying to become more effective offshore, Capt. Brian helps anglers shorten the learning curve and fish more confidently.
🔗 Learn More
Website: flieroutdoors.com
Instagram: @captbmosk
Phone: 860-922-1403
Email: bmoskey@gmail.com