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 How to Chunk For Giant Yellowfin Tuna
Tommy Rothery, Captain and Owner of the "Polaris Supreme" out of San Diego, Ca. shows us chunking techniques for giant yellowfin.
Chunk Fishing
Chunk fishing has been around for a long, long time. There's evidence that it was an East Coast thing originally, so we can't really stake any great claim to fame for being the first pioneers of chunking, but we have definitely perfected it for use on big tuna. Some of the guys tried it out here in the late 80's on the 14 to 16 day trips, more in an effort to keep some chum in the water when we were running low on live bait. But it wasn't until we saw some huge tuna chewing the chunks right off the stern that we even started putting hooks into the chunk line. Now, it's one of the most productive methods we use for big fish. In fact, Randy Toussant when he was decking on the Qualifier 105 used to leave big Salamis out all day in the sun, and when they bloated, he’d just float them off the boat a couple hundred yards and get slammed on the dead bait. Up until then, we all pretty much agreed that you could only catch the Tuna on live baits. Wrong! It'll blow your mind when you see some giant tuna working the chunks right up to the back of the boat. It's an incredible sight. In fact, when Tom Pfleger set his 30# IGFA world record (258.3 pounds) we eyeballed the fish in the chunk line before we made the presentation.
A typical chunk fishing scenario will have one of the crew cutting up small chunk baits. There's a crew member in the corner with a bucket and he's throwing a chunk in about one every ten to six feet as it sinks behind the boat. We've found that steady chum lines with chunks work very well and we've also found that mixing it up can stimulate fish also. When we mix it up we're chumming steady for twenty minutes, we break it for five and all of a sudden you can see the fish come up the chunk line and say, "hey where did they go." At times we use this to bring them up if they are hanging way back and deep off our stern.
Almost all the chunk fish are hooked real close to the boat, where you can see them down there almost 100 feet. I can't remember if we've ever hooked a chunk fish further away then that distance. They're coming right up to the boat and if a fish is around eating chunks he will come all the way up the chunk line guaranteed. So this tells us that they are not shy and once they get locked in on eating the chunk that is almost all they focus on.
When we fish the chunk we recommend 100# test on your main line, 200# leader, only about four to six feet and you should have 80# to 100# Spectra backing on a 50 wide, two speed reel. Don't fool around with 60# or 80# line because you think you'll get bit more easily. Chunk fish get stupid and they're usually big! In fact, most of the big fish this year have come on the chunk so you want to have your big guns ready. They want to come up and eat anything if they're in the chunk line. About the only thing they won't eat is live Mackerel. We'll drop live baits in on them when they come up and they just won't touch them. They're looking for the chunks, period!
The thing I see guys do a lot is they dump in their chunk and look around and aren't really concentrating on what's happening with their bait. If you want to be successful at this style of fishing it takes concentration and a lot of effort. I also see guys walk anywhere on the corner or stern and dump their chunk in. As soon as their chunk hits the water they are out of the chunk line and don't even know it. You have to dump your chunk in right in the chunk line, which makes it more difficult because you have everyone trying to dump in at the same spot. But you have to do it if you want your chunk in the proper spot. Once it's in the chunk line feed your line out. Keep your reel in free spool holding your rod in the most comfortable position for you. I like it under my right arm, pointing the rod tip right at my chunk. Some guys fish with the clicker on to avoid a back lash, but it can be real annoying to your fellow anglers so be sensitive. Every boat has their own unique style of how to handle your rod and reel while chunking so ask the crew and follow their instructions. The key is don't let your chunk pull line off the spool as it sinks, because that little drag will get your chunk out of the chunk line or it just won't drift down like the other chummed chunks. Just keep stripping line off. It's work but you've got to keep all tension off the line, totally slack line, so it sinks naturally with the rest of the chunks. If you feel any movement at all it's a fish. Remember chunks don't swim! If your line is moving you're picked up. Again, the key is to keep feeding line off your reel and keep the line slack.
Focus how long your chunk has been in the water. I can't tell you how many times I've been out there and guys get tired and lazy and they'll be out there for twenty minutes or even ten minutes on a chunk. Five minutes is a long time on a chunk without getting bit. Wind it in, you're probably out of the chunk line just from the swing of the boat. The key is to be in the chunk line. I recommend resetting your chunk about every 3 minutes.
Now for the terminal tackle, you're using your normal 200# leader with your heavy duty 7/0 to 8/0 forged hook or heavy duty circle hook with a real solid 400# barrel swivel attached to the eye of the hook. The swivel is important because it will reduce line twist as your chunk is drifting around. You thread the chunk on like you would a shish-kabob, but you don't need a massive chunk. The best thing to do is to check with the crew to see if you are threading your chunk on correctly. Again, everyone has their favorite way of threading it on the hook. So ask the crew and they will teach you what method works well for them. But remember the rule that when the Tuna are out there feeding in that chunk line they’re stupid! They really get careless but don't you. If you concentrate and focus, chunking will pay off big time.
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