Popping & Stickbaiting for Tuna and Jacks in Bonaire

By Captain Yuri van Kampen — Fishtales, Bonaire · June 17, 2026

There is nothing in sportfishing quite like watching a school of tuna shred the surface, dropping a popper into the chaos, and feeling a yellowfin try to rip the rod out of your hands. Off Bonaire we get real chances at this on the surface, and when it comes together it is the most exciting fishing we do. Here is the honest rundown on tackle and technique for popping and stickbaiting tuna and jacks in Bonaire.

The fish in Bonaire

Surface action here centers on yellowfin tuna and hard-pulling jacks, mainly horse-eye and bar jacks that bust bait close to the drop-off. There is no closed season. We fish for these year-round, with peaks when bait is thick and the birds are working. Calm mornings and the windward edges where current meets structure tend to produce the best topwater windows.

The rod and reel

This is heavy-gear sport. You want a proper popping rod matched to a high-capacity spinning reel that can hold a lot of line and survive a long fight against a fish that does not quit. We run Shimano Stella SW reels when we want the best, and Shimano Saragosa when we want a workhorse that takes a beating and keeps going. Both have the drag and the capacity for a Bonaire yellowfin. The rod should have the backbone to throw a big lure all day and the recovery to drive a hook home at distance.

Line and leader

Braid is non-negotiable for the casting distance and the line capacity it gives you. We spool PE6 to PE8 braid, which covers most of what swims past us here without being overkill. To that we tie a length of heavy fluorocarbon leader for abrasion resistance and to give the fish less to look at near the lure. Tie a solid, well-seated connection knot between braid and leader, because that knot is what fails first when a big yellowfin loads up.

Lures: poppers and stickbaits

Two families do the work. Poppers throw water and noise to call fish up; stickbaits swim and dart just under the surface for a more natural look when the fish are fussy. Carry both. We rely on proven brands:

• Nomad poppers and stickbaits
• Halco surface lures
• Shimano poppers and stickbaits

One thing we always do: upgrade the hardware. Out of the box, many lures wear hooks that straighten on a serious tuna. Swap them for strong single hooks or heavy-duty trebles rated for this fishing. You can pick up these lures and quality replacement hooks at TackleDirect if you want to build your own kit before the trip.

How to fish it

The whole game is reading the surface and reacting fast. When you see a school busting, cast at it, into it or just past it, and get the lure working immediately. Work it fast and erratic: a popper wants sharp, water-throwing sweeps of the rod; a stickbait wants a darting, panicked retrieve that never settles into a rhythm. Predators key on a baitfish that looks like it is in trouble, so make yours look like the easiest meal in the school. When a fish hits, let it load the rod before you lean into it, then keep the pressure on and let the drag do its job. Stay ready, because the action can be over in seconds.

Come fish it with us

Bring this gear, or come use ours, and we will put you on the surface action when the conditions line up. When you are ready, book a fishing trip and let us show you what Bonaire’s topwater fishing is really about.

Captain’s note, topwater on tuna and jacks is the most explosive bite we get: heavy spinning gear and a locked drag, because a horse-eye jack will try to spool you straight into the reef.