Long lining

This is a passive type of fishing technique making use of

lines, with baited hooks, as the fishing gear instead of nets
used in other fishing methods. The gear is widely popular in
traditional as well as commercial fishing sectors. It is known
to be highly fuel-efficient, eco-friendly and size and species
selective, compared to fishing method such as trawling.
However, the incidental catch of seabirds and sea turtles by
long liners has become an environmental issue as the animals
are protected. Long lines are especially suited to catch
scattered and sparsely distributed fish populations. Important
species of tuna and allied species caught in long lines are
yellowfin, big eye, skipjack, albacore, long tail, southern
bluefin, northern bluefin, black marlin, blue marlin, sword
fish, sail fish and different species of sharks. Depending on
the manner and depth of operation, long line is grouped into
four categories – surface long line, mid-water long line,
bottom long line and vertical long line.

Structure of a tuna long line (basket type)

A typical tuna long line

consists of float, float
line, main line, branch line
and accessories. The usual
length of each main line
section is about 50 m and
each branch line 25 m. The
main line sections (5-6 nos.;
vary with the number of
branch lines) along with the
branch lines (4-5 nos.; the
number of branch lines can be
up to 15) and a float line are known as a ‘basket’ or “unit’
of a long line. Polyester (PES), polyvinyl alcohol (PVAA),
polyamide (PA) and their combinations with a diameter of 6-7
mm and having breaking strength of about 200 kg are generally
used as main line. At the end of each basket, a buoy line is
attached which leads to a large float from which the gear is
suspended. The length of buoy line varies according to the
depth at which the tuna is found or expected to be swimming.
Each basket of main line is suspended between two floats and
attains the shape of a catenary (A catenary curve is the
natural curve formed by a line or cable suspended between two
points.)

Parts of a tuna long line

(i) Main line: - The length of main line depends upon the
length and number of the branch lines. It can be from 5 to 100

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nautical miles (nm) long. Each unit / basket of main line has
five or more branch lines. The most suitable synthetic fibres
for main line are polyester and vinylon.

(ii) Branch line: - Each branch line, with hook, is attached

to the main line at appropriate intervals. The distance
between two branch lines should be more than the combined
length of two branch lines. The branch lines can be either
tied or attached by a snap-on clip. The length of branch lines
varies from 20-25m. Each branch line has the following parts
(a) Branch line proper: - The material used
for the construction of a branch line
proper is same as that of a main line but
of slightly less diameter. It is made
separately and on one end a long eye
splice is made for connecting it to the
main line either by a double sheet bend
or a snap-on clip. The advantage of using
snap-on clip is that it is easy to
connect and disconnect. The other end of branch line
proper is attached to one eye of the swivel.
(b) Swivel: - The purpose of using swivel after the branch
line proper is to avoid twisting or kinking of the line
when a fish is hooked at the time of fishing. To the
lower end of the swivel a short line (about 30cm) is
attached by an eye splice. The free end of this is
connected to the Sekiyama.
(c) Sekiyama: - It is also
known as secondary leader.
Sekiyama is constructed of
three twisted steel wires
and wound around with
cotton twine to reinforce
its durability and to
provide adequate grip in
handling the branch line.
On either end of the
Sekiyama two loop eyes are
made provided with an
armour spring of cotton or
synthetic material, for
protection. Together with
swivel it prevents twists,
kinks and entanglement.
(d) Leader wire or Snood wire:
- The material and
construction is same that
of Sekiyama. Two loop eyes
are provided at either end
of the snood wire. One end
of the leader wire is attached to Sekiyama and the

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 other end to the hook where a metal spring is used for
covering the loop. As an alternative arrangement a
device called ‘Aimata’, made of fluorescent material,
is provided along with the hook with in the eye. Aimata
ensures smooth movements of hook, prevent the deforming
of the eye and also act as a luring device.
(e) Hook: - Hooks used in tuna long line is of various
shapes and sizes, made of galvanized iron, brass or
stainless steel. The barbs of the hooks are to be
sharpened on every trip to improve efficiency. Hooks
can be round bend hooks or ‘J’-hooks.

(iii) Float: - It can be either glass, fibreglass or plastic.

They are hollow and spherical in shape and also be able to
withstand a pressure corresponding to a depth of 200m. The
floats are provided with an outer tight fitted netting of
synthetic material for easy attachment to float line and also
prevent breaking of float line during handling. A fishing
burner, made of tubular aluminium piece painted with
fluorescent material, for easy detction of floats is attached.

(iv) Float line: - The purpose of float line is to maintain

the long line at desired depth of operation by regulating its
length. It also helps in maintaining the required catenary
curve. On both ends of the float line eye splices are provided
– one end attached to the float and other end to the junction
of two baskets.

(v) Flag pole and flag: - A flag pole, made of bamboo, with a
red or yellow coloured flag is attached to the long line for
easy detection during daytime. It also helps to find out the
broken line easily.

(vi) Light buoy: - When more number of baskets are used the
immersion time of the line is prolonged and so light buoys
should be used to detect the line when hauling continues even
after sunset.

(vii) Radio buoy: - When the length of the tuna long line is
more than 120 km or more, radio buoys are used. They have
frequency of 1600 KHz to 2850 KHz. There are two types of
radio buoys – one transmitting continuous signals and other
transmitting intermittent signals. The transmission range of
radio buoy is 30 miles.

The vessel

The long line is operated from a wide range of vessels

ranging from small coastal vessels to large automated liners.
A typical long liner is a flush deck vessel with low free
board and a forecastle. Wheelhouse amidship and engine room

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aft. A clear aft deck for shooting the lines, and a working
deck for hauling the lines provided between the wheelhouse and
forecastle. Large fish holds and fuel oil capacity are the
characteristics of tuna long liners.

Deck equipments

(i) Line hauler: - It is used to haul the long line gear. The
line hauler consists of the motor, clutch, gears, governor and
three sheaves by which the lines are hauled mechanically
through friction on the pulleys.

(ii) Chute: - It is a channel made of fibreglass or wood for

the easy shooting of gear. It is fixed at the aft of the
vessel.

(iii) Side roller: - It is a simple pulley with a sheave

attached in the gunwale. It directs the line to the line
hauler.

Fishing operation

The long line fishing cycle includes the following

sequences which are common for all long line operation –
baiting, setting or shooting, soak time / fishing and hauling.
Long lines are usually set and hauled once daily and are
allowed to drift freely for several hours while fishing. The
various processes in the operation of a long line are:

(i) Baiting: - The hooks are baited either by hand or

mechanically by baiting machines. Hand baiting is predominant
and the baiting is commonly done on shore, but on large
vessels operating off shore the baiting is conducted on board.

(ii) Setting or shooting: - There are two methods of shooting

the lines.

(a) Method ‘A’: - Flag pole first; light buoy/radio buoy

last. In this method the vessel return to the start
position after completing the shooting and then start

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 patrol along the set line. Patrolling enables to find
out the condition of the set line. This method is
suitable for calm sea conditions and the set lines get
a longer immersion time.
(b) Method ‘B’: - Light buoy/radio buoy first; flag pole
last. Here the vessel drifts after completing the
shooting without patrolling the lines. This method is
suitable for rough sea conditions when it is not
possible to shoot lines against wind and wave.

Time of setting is of importance in long line fishing.

The feeding motivation of fish varies with time of day and so
do the feeding period of bait scavengers. Dawn and dusk are
ideal time for shooting, when the feeding rate is at peak.
Long lines for fishes that feed during daylight (yellow fin
tuna, marlins etc) are set early in the morning before sunrise
and hauled by afternoon. For fishes that feed during night
(sword fish, some species of shark etc), long lines are
operated at sunset and hauled before dawn. Time and place of
setting the gear is based on experience and also with the aid
of modern fishing equipments. Environmental conditions such as
sea surface temperature (SST, most important environmental
parameter), oxygen level, transparency, thermocline, current
pattern, weather condition etc of the fishing ground should be
ascertained before the commencement of fishing operation.
Shooting is normally done form the stern of the vessel.
When ready for setting, the flag pole or light buoy/radio buoy
is attached with the main line and the main line is paid out
as the vessel moves slowly forward. The branch lines with
baited hooks are attached to the main line at regular
intervals. After every five branch lines one float with the
float line is attached to the main line so as to mark one
unit.

(iii) Fishing or immersion time or soak time

Soak time is usually measured from the time the last buoy
of the set is thrown until the first buoy is hauled. This time
can vary from about 3 hours to as much as 8 or 9 hours,
depending on length of mainline, fishing conditions, fishing
strategy, weather, target species etc. Patrolling can be done
if Method-A is followed.

(iv) Hauling

Hauling or retrieving the gear which is by far the most

time consuming part of long line fishing. During hauling the
flag pole is hauled in before the hauling of line can start.
The flag pole is then detached and the end of the main line is
taken over the guide roller to the sheaves of the hydraulic
main line hauler. The lines are hauled from the starboard side

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forward of the vessel. Branch lines are unclipped from the
main line, coiled and placed in the conveyor to sent them to
the stern for storage and keep ready for next operation.

Monofilament long lining

In monofilament long lining the main line, branch line

and float lines are made of polyamide monofilament. Main lines
have a diameter of 4mm and branch lines of 1.5 to 2.5mm are
used.

Main line
The mainline is continuous and is made of 3.0 to 4.5 mm
diameter monofilament with branch lines attached to it by
snap-on clip at every calculated interval, which is more than
the combined length of two branch lines so as to avoid
entanglement. Stoppers made or plastic or metal or simple cord
whipping is used to keep the branch line clip in place.

Branch line
Branch line of 15-20m length made of 1.5 to 2.5mm
diameter monofilament is attached to the
main line with snap-on clip. The number
of branch lines in a monofilament tuna
long line unit varies between 15 and 40.

Float and float line

Plastic or fibreglass floats are
attached to 4mm diameter monofilament
line. Float lines are attached to the
main line with snap-on clip.

Vessel and deck equipments

The vessel layout is same as for a
multifilament (basket type) long line.
The deck equipments required are a main
line reel to store and release the line,
separate reels to store the branch
lines, place to keep the floats and float lines, a chute or
line setter (a line setter pulls the main line from the drum
at desired speed) and for hauling a guide roller and main line
hauler. However, the line may also be hauled directly by the
reel or drum.

Fishing operation
Operation of monofilament long line is same as that of
multifilament (basket type) long line.

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