chunking technique ?

[MO1]

I understand the concept , and have done basically the same thing
with shrimpboat trash for tarpon. I suspect what works best for
tarpon may not be best with tuna.
Do you fish with rod in holder and strip line with 2 hands or hold the rod and strip with one ? complete freespool or clicker on ? Engage drag quickly or slow? Please describe what a strike looks like and exactly what you do next.
Thanks
MO

[CaptEddie]

I fish with the rod in the holder and strip with two hands. Freespool with the clicker on and engage the drag smoothly and pretty slow. The fish will just rip the line out your hands when he hits. Just let go of the line and moderatly move the lever drag up to strike position and then take the rod out the holder and hold on.

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

That's a good description that Capt Eddie gave.

I can only add that you want your chunk to sink and drift outta sight with all the others. It should be one of the pack....

[SkeeterRonnie]

awesome description Eddie. that sounds a lot easier than holding the heavy rod, and stripping at the same time.(only way I knew how to).

[Pope]

I hold the reel with it in free spool and let the current take the line. My bait drifts exactly the same speed as the chum. Slowly engage the drag

[ksong]

Originally Posted by MO1

I understand the concept , and have done basically the same thing
with shrimpboat trash for tarpon. I suspect what works best for
tarpon may not be best with tuna.
Do you fish with rod in holder and strip line with 2 hands or hold the rod and strip with one ? complete freespool or clicker on ? Engage drag quickly or slow? Please describe what a strike looks like and exactly what you do next.
Thanks
MO

We do the same thing when we fish big bluefin tuna behind scallop draggers. If you are not experienced tuna fisherman, I don't recommend complete freespool because you can get bird nest on your reel if you don't act in time. Give enough slack line in the water and just move the lever drag to strike smoothly (some people like to move drag to 1/2 or 3/4 of strike initially) when tuna takes your line. Before you take rod out of holder crank as fast as possible. When you feel tuna are secured, then you take rod out of holder and fight.

When you hold your rod while chunking, you feed your line with your one hand. Give enough slack line so that your bait doesn't drag. I prefer complete free spool instead of crickers on when I hold my rod. I put my thumb slightly over the spool to prevent from backlashing when tuna takes line. When tuna takes bait, I usaully decide when to move the lever to the stirike based on the speed tuna takes. It can be two or three seconds or it can be 5 or 6 seconds. In this process you just put your thumb slightly over the spool so that tuna doesn't feel any registance while preventing from bird nesting. I saw even experienced fishermen lose too many fish by giving too much time with clickers on.
Whether you use J hook or circle hook, don't try to set the hook. As tuna run, they usually hook themselves and crank as fast as you can when rod tip goes down. Once you are secured, then put your rod on your fighting belt and fight.

[Uncle Russ]

What is the best terminal rig for chunking? I assume a windon leader, either short or up to 25 feet? Flourocarbon best? Do you tie the hook directly to the leader or crimp it on? How about a BB swivel, or does that impede the presentation with the chum?

Russ

[ksong]

Originally Posted by Uncle Russ

What is the best terminal rig for chunking? I assume a windon leader, either short or up to 25 feet? Flourocarbon best? Do you tie the hook directly to the leader or crimp it on? How about a BB swivel, or does that impede the presentation with the chum?

Russ

General tendency is to use shorter windon leader line, but I don't think the length of leader line is important as long as you have enough line capacity.

Some people believe the effectiveness of fluorocarbon and some people don't. I have many occasions that tuna sometimes are very line shy though they bite on 200 lbs leader line. It never hurt to use fluorocarbon leader lines.

The rule of thumb is you can tie directly to the leader upto 100 lbs and crimp it on over 100 lbs, but you can tie upto 200 lbs if you have confidence in your knot.

Using barrel swivel is another good method to connect main braided line and mono leader line, but the problem is you can not use long leader line.
When using barrel swivel, be careful the swivel doesn't go into the guides.
It can damage your guides. I experienced three guides were damaged when tuna charged when I used a small swivel.

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

Originally Posted by Uncle Russ

What is the best terminal rig for chunking? I assume a windon leader, either short or up to 25 feet? Flourocarbon best? Do you tie the hook directly to the leader or crimp it on? How about a BB swivel, or does that impede the presentation with the chum?

Russ

I often use a Penn 30 loaded with Jerry Brown HC 130 for chunking. I have a loop pulled into the bitter end of my spectra. I tie a f' carbon windon on with a loop to loop. I straight tie my hook onto the f' carbon. I like San Diego knots. Doubled if ya can do it in the lighter lines. I hide the hook in a pocket cut into the chunk. Just stick it in; don't bait the hook. I use a short windon. 25 ft or less. I feel that I get a natural presentation this way. Very few knots. Just give a sharp tug and your hook is free from the chunk and you are winding it back in.
I adjust my f'carbon size down to get a bite. I try to use as big as I can.

[Pope]

Thanks for the elaboration ksong. That is my method and I should have warned of impending bird's nests.