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Chunk Fishing
Chunk fishing has been around for a long, long
time.There's evidence that it was a East Coast thing originally.There is more then keep some chum in the water when you are
fishing.I'll take you thru that latter.But off the east coast of north Carolina Now, it's one of the most productive methods
used for big fish. 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. A typical chunk fishing scenario will be one of cutting up small chunks of bait and then throwing
the chunks behind the boat. We have found that steady chum lines with chunks works very well and we have also found that mixing
it up can stimulate fish also. When we mix it up,we are chumming steady then we break it off to a few chunks
and all of a sudden you can see the fish come up the chunk line and say, "hey where did they go". They are 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 I fish the chunk
I recommend 60 or 80 lb. test on your main line, and the same for the leader, only about four to six feet(But be sure that
is some type of fluorocarbon line.) Chunk fish get big! In fact most of the big fish this year has come on the chunks so you
want to have your big guns ready. They want to come up and eat anything in the chunk line. The thing I see guys do a
lot is they dump in their chunk and look around and aren't really concentrating on what is 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 do not
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.I mean pull off
line fast with your hands. Keep your reel in free spool holding your rod in the most comfortable position for you. I like
it in the rod holder that way I can pull it off with both hands.Some guys fish with the clicker on to avoid a back lash, but
it can be really 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 The key is do not 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 will not 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.
If you feel any movement at all it's a fish. Remember chunks do not swim! If your line is moving you have a fish.
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 cannot tell you how many times I've been out there and guys get tired and lazy and they will be out there for 20 minutes
or even ten minutes on a chunk.Five minutes is a long time on a chunk without getting bit.Wind it in, you are probably out
of the chunk line just from the swing of the boat. The key is to be in the chunk line. If you are chunking about every three
minutes.Now for the terminal tackle, you are using your normal leader with your heavy duty 7/0 to 8/0 forged hook or heavy
duty circle hook with a real solid 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. But you do not need a massive chunk.
Again, everyone has their favorite way of threading
it on the hook. But remember the rule that when the Tunas are out there feeding in that chunk line they are stupid! They really
get careless but don't you be. If you concentrate and focus, chunking will pay off big time.
When chumming,the route to achieving success and
minmizing failure is experience.To be successful at chumming,you must maintain a delicate balance.You want to attract
the fish you're seeking so that they will respond to a baited hook or to an artifical lure that is fished in the chum line
or in the area being baited.However,if you chum too heavil,the fish will often settle weii back in the line,gorging on your
offering.On the other hand,if you chum too sparingly or fail to maintain a consistent flow of chum,the fish will show little
interest and will often move off.Maintaining that perfect balance is something that is not difficult,but it comes with
experience.A good rule of thumb is to drop pieces of chum into the water at regular intervals.Also in the excitement of catching
fish,the chum line is often forgotten,only to be remembered too late,after the fish have moved out of the area.
Knowing where to anchor,Whether to anchor or drift,how
Frequenty to dispense the chum,when to add weight to your line chum,to take the bait deeper,when to use a float to keep it
at the right level, and other issues is possible only with experience.Even then,successful chumming may simply be trial
and error.But,since so much of angling is finding and attracting fish,chumming is a techigue that deserves consideration by
every serious angler.
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