What Is a Side Tracker® and Why It Produces More Tuna While Trolling?

When tuna fishing gets competitive, small adjustments in your trolling spread can make a major difference. One of the most effective tools to improve your presentation and increase bites is the side tracker.

Side Trackers® have become a staple in modern tuna trolling spreads, especially throughout the Northeast and midshore grounds. They help anglers cover more water, create separation from the boat, and trigger strikes from fish that might ignore a tighter, traditional spread.

ChatterLures is the original Side Tracker® and the creators of the Multidirectional Side Tracker®, a design that changed how offshore anglers build and fish trolling spreads.

So what exactly is a side tracker, and why does it consistently produce?

What Is a Side Tracker®?

A side tracker is a specialized spreader bar designed to track outward, away from the boat, as it trolls through the water.

Unlike traditional spreader bars that run directly behind the boat in the prop wash, side trackers naturally pull to the side, widening your trolling spread and creating a more natural, less pressured presentation.

They are most commonly run from:

• Outriggers
• High rod holders
• Outside positions in a multi-rod spread

The goal is simple: get baits away from the noise and turbulence of the boat.

The Patented Multi-Directional Side Tracker® Advantage

ChatterLures is also the creator of the patented Multi-Directional Side Tracker® Spreader Bar, a design built to give offshore anglers more flexibility and more productive coverage while trolling.

Unlike traditional spreader bars, the Multi-Directional Side Tracker® allows you to switch the bar from port to starboard in seconds. That means you can adjust your spread quickly based on conditions, current, or the direction of your troll without needing to re-rig.

For boats without outriggers, this design opens up even more options. By adding an additional clip to your riggers, the Side Tracker® can help you run extra rods in your spread and expand your presentation into cleaner, quieter water outside the prop wash.

Side trackers are designed to get bit, and in many trolling spreads, they are often the first lures that tuna find and commit to.

U.S. Patents: US 10,368,533 B1, US 11,089,771 B2, US 11,819,015 B2, US 11,825,824 B2

Why Side Trackers Increase Tuna Trolling Production

Side trackers are not just different, they are effective for a reason. Here are the main advantages they bring to a tuna trolling spread.

1. Wider Coverage Means More Opportunities

One of the biggest challenges when trolling for tuna is finding fish that are actively feeding.

Side trackers widen your spread and help you cover more water horizontally, giving tuna more chances to see your baits from different angles.

A wider spread can be the difference between:

• One bite a day
• Multiple shots in the same troll line

Especially in midshore fisheries where fish may be scattered, coverage matters.

2. Cleaner Presentation Outside the Prop Wash

Tuna can be wary, especially in heavily pressured waters.

Traditional bars run closer to the boat and spend more time in prop turbulence. Side trackers pull out and away, giving your spread a cleaner, more natural look.

This is often where the first bites happen, because the bait looks less mechanical and less disturbed.

3. Natural Separation in the Spread

A common mistake in trolling is running too many baits too close together.

Side trackers create built-in spacing and separation, allowing each lure to work properly without crowding the spread.

That separation helps:

• Reduce tangles
• Improve lure action
• Make the spread look more like a real bait pod

4. Side Trackers Stand Out When the Bite Is Tough

Many captains report the same thing: when the tuna bite slows down, side trackers often get hit first.

Because they run outside the main spread, they present something different. Tuna that ignore the center baits will often commit to the side tracker position.

They are especially effective:

• In calm seas
• In clear water
• During pressured midseason bites

5. Better Action in Rougher Conditions

Rod tip height and sea conditions play a big role in how spreader bars perform.

Side trackers are designed to run clean even when conditions get sloppy, maintaining profile and surface commotion while still tracking outward.

That consistent action makes them a reliable piece of the spread from early season through fall.

Where Side Trackers Fit in a Tuna Trolling Spread

Most anglers run side trackers in the outside and inside rigger positions, such as:

• 19-inch Side Trackers® outside
• 36-inch Side Trackers® inside
• Additional baits down the middle and corners

This layout creates a balanced spread that covers:

• Surface water
• Subsurface zones
• Wide lateral coverage

It’s simple, effective, and proven across Northeast tuna fisheries.

Side Trackers vs Traditional Spreader Bars

Traditional bars still catch fish, but Side Trackers® offer a key advantage: they add width without extra complexity.

Side trackers are often the easiest way to upgrade a trolling spread without adding:

• Planers
• More rods
• Additional rigging challenges

For many boats, they are the most productive first upgrade.

Final Thoughts: Why Every Tuna Angler Should Run Side Trackers

If you are serious about improving your tuna trolling program, side trackers are one of the most effective tools you can add to your spread.

They help you:

• Cover more water
• Present baits cleaner
• Trigger bites away from the boat
• Stay productive when conditions get tough

Whether you are trolling midshore for bluefin or pushing canyon edges for yellowfin, side trackers consistently earn their place in the spread.

Shop Side Trackers Built to Fish

Explore ChatterLures Side Trackers and proven tuna trolling bars designed for serious offshore anglers.

👉 Shop Side Trackers® from ChatterLures