Chunking 101 Capt. Bryan Wentworth Notorious Sportfishing
Chunking Intro Sportfishing Charters • What is chunking? • Throwing cut bait to attract fish, create a feeding frenzy, and feeding them hook baits • Main objective is attracting and keeping fish by their sense of sight and determination to eat • Not chumming with ground bait/blood to lure fish by smell (studies show some smells actually deter tuna) • When to chunk? • Typically later in the season (tuna fall into a routine) • When fish have gathered over/around structure
What is a chunk? Sportfishing Charters • Most common chunk bait is fresh/fresh frozen butterfish • Also squid, mackerel, menhaden, and various clams • An average size butterfish is cut into 3-4 chunks • Don’t cut your chunks too small • A full day of chunking will require up to 100lbs. of bait • Make sure to examine the bait before purchase if possible (garbage in-garbage out)
The Gear • Typically 30-50lb. class rods/reels • Avet EXW 4/02, Penn 30/50s, Shimano TLDs, etc… • Chaos Custom Rods, Penn International, Penn Mariner, Penn Tuna Sticks, etc… • Stand-up fighting belt/harnass • You might need several of each • Balloons/floats, weights (8-24oz.), rubber bands • Any CONTENDER boat will do
Hooks & Leader • 30-80lb. Flourocarbon leader (8 ft.) • Line class depends on target species, avg. size, water clarity, seas, and ACTION… • Tuna have excellent eyesight • SPRO 80lb. Power Swivel (only choice) • Smaller (less visible), powerful, wind-on • 7/0 or 8/0 Circle Hook (snelled) • Penn Bluewater, Mustad, Gamakatsu
Finding Fish Sportfishing Charters • Bait – the food chain at work • Structure – lumps, canyons, wrecks, etc. • Water Temp/Color – find the best water for your target species • Draggers – the ultimate tuna magnet • TidalFish.com – internet forum provides valuable information and reports for recent activity
Prepare to Chunk Sportfishing Charters • 5-6 rods rigged and ready to go • 2 feeder lines and 2-3 deep lines • Cut or slice your chunks into a bucket • Chunk cutters are the real deal • Find the best looking baits for hook baits • No torn flesh, no sunken eyes, no scars • Garbage in = Garbage out • Bury and hide the hook inside the baits • Heads or tails? • Inny or outy hook points?
Start the Slick Sportfishing Charters • Start by throwing chunks around the boat in every direction • Begin setting lines and continue tossing chunks into a single 10x10 foot area (NEVER STOP) • 5-6 chunks at a time, waiting until the last set of chunks is about to disappear before throwing another set • Watch the chunks fall to help determine the speed and direction of the drift • The speed will also tell you how deep/far to set your deep baits
The Deep Lines Sportfishing Charters • Find the fish, bait, thermocline • 5 rod spread = 50, 35, 20ft. deep w/ 2 feeders • 4 rod spread = 45, 30ft. deep w/ 2 feeders • Set the furthest/deepest bait first • Weights should be no closer than 30ft. from the bait • Place the float up 50/35/20ft. from the weight • Feed the float out until you think the chunks are drifting by the hook bait (approx Depth x 2) • Bluefin around? Drop a line off the bottom • Rods should be set at or just below “strike” (approx.10lbs)
The Feeder Lines Sportfishing Charters • One person on each rod (almost free spool with clickers “on”) • Pull off 40 feet of line (no weights) and toss the bait into the middle of the chunks • Feed line, maintaining a slight amount of slack to keep the baits drifting with the chunks • After about 100 feet of line, pull the feeder in slowly and start again
Catching Fish • When reels start screaming, don’t forget to keep chunking (why let someone else hold your fish?) • Move drags to “strike” to set the circle hooks (no Jimmy Houston hook sets) • When fighting stand-up, use your legs and let the harness do the work on big fish • A good gaff shot is any gaff shot that puts a fish in the boat (or just aft of the pec fins)
Questions? Sportfishing Charters Capt. Bryan Wentworth Office: 410-798-7491 Cell: 410-279-9237 Email: bryan@fishnotorious.com Web: www.fishnotorious.com
