[KJ2020]

Hi All,

New to fishing in general, started in Oct 2020. I have quickly bought into the addiction. I have since bought a boat after one year, and started offshore fishing now in Dec 2022.

I have now been to three 36 hours tuna trip. Once out of port Aransas, and twice out of Galveston.

Continuing to meet like minded people who loves to fish. Here are some of my catches and gears.

See you out there!

Kevin,

 

[Palomarknot]

Big boy toys and a taste for the good stuff, definitely have got hooked. Welcome and enjoy the ride!
Did you catch the big squid while jigging?

 

[KJ2020]

Big boy toys and a taste for the good stuff, definitely have got hooked. Welcome and enjoy the ride!
Did you catch the big squid while jigging?

Thank you.

Yes. I probably over bought. I think I maybe missing a chunking rod. Any recommendations?

Surprisingly, the squid was also on a tuna jig.

 

[jiggawhat]

how's that cow special?
want a conventional for grouper

 

[KJ2020]

how's that cow special?
want a conventional for grouper

I bought it for YFT. Way too much of a rod for that here. It is made to handle 300+ blue fins.

I had to get a ripple fisher, and that is lighter and easier to throw.

 

[Palomarknot]

One can never have enough, think most of us put a set-up together and try to tell ourselves, ok im done, think its all covered. Then within days you're already thinking of the next set-up you wanna build. Before you know it, you got 4 jigging rods, 3 popping rods, 3 boat rods, 2 chunking rods.
Tend to think of a chunking rod, as one that's going to get bashed around a little, resting it on the rail, not worried about being to rough with it. Plenty of backbone, able to really put the heat on a nice tuna once hooked up, preferably about 6'6" in length. There is so much out there to choose from.
Kinda old school and majority of my gear is Penn tackle, except for some Shimano, Phenix and Ripple Fisher Popping rods.
My go to Chunking rod is a Penn West Coast Boat Conventional rod, 30-80lb, Heavy in power, Moderate in action, 6'6"
Been wanting to add a Seeker in the mix, think that will be next.

 

[KJ2020]

One can never have enough, think most of us put a set-up together and try to tell ourselves, ok im done, think its all covered. Then within days you're already thinking of the next set-up you wanna build. Before you know it, you got 4 jigging rods, 3 popping rods, 3 boat rods, 2 chunking rods.
Tend to think of a chunking rod, as one that's going to get bashed around a little, resting it on the rail, not worried about being to rough with it. Plenty of backbone, able to really put the heat on a nice tuna once hooked up, preferably about 6'6" in length. There is so much out there to choose from.
Kinda old school and majority of my gear is Penn tackle, except for some Shimano, Phenix and Ripple Fisher Popping rods.
My go to Chunking rod is a Penn West Coast Boat Conventional rod, 30-80lb, Heavy in power, Moderate in action, 6'6"
Been wanting to add a Seeker in the mix, think that will be next.

I know exactly what you mean! I am at 3 SPJ jigging rods, and 2 poping rods. Is the seeker you are thinking of for chunking. I don’t know what is important for a chunking rod. I don’t even know if that should be a spinning or casting.

 

[Palomarknot]

Seeker rods are a American made brand of quality rods, really popular out on the West Coast with their Bluefin. I would stay with conventional for Chunking gear. Although there are some spinning reels with live-liner built in, that you could use as a Chunking reel.
Got a Penn 8500 live-liner spinning reel, its a great reel and a multi use spinning reel but I still prefer conventional reel for Chunking, mainly because I'm able to rest the rod on the rail and at times use the rail for leverage during the fight.

 

[jiggawhat]

Seeker rods are a American made brand of quality rods, really popular out on the West Coast with their Bluefin. I would stay with conventional for Chunking gear. Although there are some spinning reels with live-liner built in, that you could use as a Chunking reel.
Got a Penn 8500 live-liner spinning reel, its a great reel and a multi use spinning reel but I still prefer conventional reel for Chunking, mainly because I'm able to rest the rod on the rail and at times use the rail for leverage during the fight.

What rod are you looking at?

 

[jbuyrum]

Definitely have some nice gear.

 

[KJ2020]

• What rod are you looking at?

  I don’t know what kind of rod and reel is best for chunking in the GOM from Galveston.

 

[KJ2020]

Definitely have some nice gear.

Thank you.
I have learn d from the first two year of fishing to just buy the good gears. My first year gears are most sold or donated.
I started with $50 reel and $50 rods for both fresh water and inshore salt water.

 

[Palomarknot]

What rod are you looking at?

SS 6465XH 6'6" 30-80lb

 

[Palomarknot]

• 
  I don’t know what kind of rod and reel is best for chunking in the GOM from Galveston.

Good Chunking rod will have a Moderate or Medium action to it, you really don't want a fast tip rod. We are using circle hooks, so you really don't need to load up the rod fast or set the hook but more less ease into it till you get tight. Then once tight you can bring the heat.
Any good conventional reel with a good bait clicker will work.

 

[Palomarknot]

Also all and any of this comes down to preference, what one has in mind is not necessarily the same for another. What would really help is if more would chime in with what or how they go about. They wanna read but offer no insight, oh and then you get the smart azz that will say that's what the search box is for.
Well guess what, while a search box can be helpful, rod technology, reel technology, line technology, all of this is constantly improving. What was great a few years ago, may not be the same today.
You have new fisherman who are excited and wanna learn from those that have experience, it takes all involved to share what they have to offer, so one can make a rash decision on a technique or gear.
Fisherman are a odd bunch, if ive learned anything, we are different and you just don't know what you might get in return.
Seriously though, some you folks need to share what you have, its beneficial to the new ones wanting to know, we are the ones supporting this industry and help pay the bills for those who make a living at this.
There's not as many saltwater fisherman as there is freshwater, this ain't dime a dozen bass fishing. So help out, and say something, it just might be beneficial.

 

[KJ2020]

Also all and any of this comes down to preference, what one has in mind is not necessarily the same for another. What would really help is if more would chime in with what or how they go about. They wanna read but offer no insight, oh and then you get the smart azz that will say that's what the search box is for.
Well guess what, while a search box can be helpful, rod technology, reel technology, line technology, all of this is constantly improving. What was great a few years ago, may not be the same today.
You have new fisherman who are excited and wanna learn from those that have experience, it takes all involved to share what they have to offer, so one can make a rash decision on a technique or gear.
Fisherman are a odd bunch, if ive learned anything, we are different and you just don't know what you might get in return.
Seriously though, some you folks need to share what you have, its beneficial to the new ones wanting to know, we are the ones supporting this industry and help pay the bills for those who make a living at this.
There's not as many saltwater fisherman as there is freshwater, this ain't dime a dozen bass fishing. So help out, and say something, it just might be beneficial.

Agreed.
I have learned much in the last two years.
I recognize that my view may not be complete because I have only seen and used so much in that time.

 

[Tuna_Assassin1]

For GOM tuna chunking my personal go to is Shimano Talica 16ii or 20ii with Phenix Black Diamond Hybrid 30-80 XH 7’6 or the 40-100 2XH 7’6. The mechanicals and drag on the shimano are butter smooth and the option of low gear is an advantage especially at the end of the fight when tuna do their pinwheels. A good second option is Okuma Makaira 15ii or 16ii sea. It’s a two gear system also, built like a tank, cost effective compared to shimano and has 5 year warranty. For rods I really like the quality of Phenix; there is something about the parabolical action of the phenix rods I like thats keeps pressure on the fish. The composite construction materials makes that rod super lightweight on those overnight fishing on the rail. 7’6 is the perfect length in my opinion for full control of keeping your fish away from rubbing the boat. Although a bit more pricey, Phenix backs all their rods with lifetime replacement warranty.
My advice for newbies who want to get serious with this addiction… buy the best quality gear you can afford the first time. You will find yourself happy with the value instead spending your resources upgrading when you started out with mediocre equipment.

 

[KJ2020]

For GOM tuna chunking my personal go to is Shimano Talica 16ii or 20ii with Phenix Black Diamond Hybrid 30-80 XH 7’6 or the 40-100 2XH 7’6. The mechanicals and drag on the shimano are butter smooth and the option of low gear is an advantage especially at the end of the fight when tuna do their pinwheels. A good second option is Okuma Makaira 15ii or 16ii sea. It’s a two gear system also, built like a tank, cost effective compared to shimano and has 5 year warranty. For rods I really like the quality of Phenix; there is something about the parabolical action of the phenix rods I like thats keeps pressure on the fish. The composite construction materials makes that rod super lightweight on those overnight fishing on the rail. 7’6 is the perfect length in my opinion for full control of keeping your fish away from rubbing the boat. Although a bit more pricey, Phenix backs all their rods with lifetime replacement warranty.
My advice for newbies who want to get serious with this addiction… buy the best quality gear you can afford the first time. You will find yourself happy with the value instead spending your resources upgrading when you started out with mediocre equipment.

Very much agree, buy the best you can the first time. I kept telling myself that I have enough tuna gear. Unfortunately, this conversation will eventually cost me to go down the road of another setup. Haha.

Now I know to get a conventional setup with a 2 gear ratio, I typically prefer Daiwa in many cases. Rods, I don’t have a hugh preference, but have had luck with Ripple Fisher. Is Phenix Japanese? I have found Japan seems to make superior gears that is light and refined. Maybe that doesn’t matter for chucking gear?

thoughts?

 

[Tuna_Assassin1]

Very much agree, buy the best you can the first time. I kept telling myself that I have enough tuna gear. Unfortunately, this conversation will eventually cost me to go down the road of another setup. Haha.

Now I know to get a conventional setup with a 2 gear ratio, I typically prefer Daiwa in many cases. Rods, I don’t have a hugh preference, but have had luck with Ripple Fisher. Is Phenix Japanese? I have found Japan seems to make superior gears that is light and refined. Maybe that doesn’t matter for chucking gear?

thoughts?

Phenix rods are based in California. Their rods are popular in the west coast. I like Daiwa also. I have the 2 gear Saltiga LD60 and LD 55 loaded with 100lb and 80lb hollow core for my west coast bluefin tuna jig setups. In the GOM, yellowfin tuna can get as large as 150lbs, on chunk bait especially in the winter months. You want a reel that has enough line and drag to stop them. I have seen a fair amount large yellowfin run 200 yards. I have also seen a Shimano Terez rod get totally destroyed. My rationale for having good gear is, we spend so much preparation, time and resources to get that one chance for the bite. I want the odds of landing that fish in my favor.

 

[KJ2020]

Amen!