Chunking is a fishing method popularized by commercial tuna fishermen on the Eastern Seaboard and has become an effective means of taking tuna, dolphin, sharks and other species around the world.

    The most important factors to consider while using this method are bait type, hook and line choice, and the area you choose to try, in relation to sea state and wind conditions. 

    Obviously, choosing the right baits both for your chum and hooked baits is very important, especially for wary, intelligent species like tuna. “Match the hatch” as I was always told since I was a kid applies here just like everywhere else. In the Gulf of Mexico, for instance, Pogies (menhaden) constitute the mainstay of our easily available baitfish…partly because they exist in great numbers around our coastal waters but also since there is a readily available supply of frozen bait at our local bait shops. Not to mention the fact that these oily fish make great chum slicks, hooked baits and even bottom fishing baits.

    Basically every geographical area near the water should have a staple baitfish in relatively good supply. Florida has threadfin herring and pilchards; North Carolina has menhaden and butterfish, and so on and so forth. 

    Frozen baits however, are not the only option that you want at your disposal when heading offshore; they are the bare minimum. There is no substitute for fresh meat when finicky fish turn down frozen offerings. Here in the Gulf we have tried all kinds of substitutes in the eternal search for the best possible bait. And the truth of the matter is that the best bait is completely subjective and constantly changing. I once had a dynamite night of tuna fishing off a floating oil platform in 5000 feet of water, using freshly cut barracuda. The fish didn’t want pogies, squid, or blackfin, but would readily take barracuda strips drifted back into the slick.

    Tuna bellies, blackfin tuna chunks, rainbow runners, blue runners, freshly caught baitfish chunks, squid, shrimp, and bottom fish have all also, been effective hooked baits at one time or another.

    So while its easiest to acquire frozen bait from a local distributor, crabber or bait shop, it is usually also essential to factor a means of obtaining some fresh bait as well whether from the cleaning station or on your way offshore. The frozen bait is also great to use as the backbone of your chum slick, to keep fish interested and to keep your slick populated with baitfish and other game fish. And remember, the by catch you get while fishing your slick may also make great fresh chunk bait as well! 

    That being said, the two major tackle issues to consider are your terminal tackle and your presentation. Serious tuna fishermen know how finicky tunas can become with their excellent eyesight and above average IQs. Hook size and shape are paramount when chunking for two reasons. First, the rate of decent of your hooked bait may be the single most important factor. When the weight of your tackle causes your chunk to sink away from the slick, your chances of hooking that fat tuna become seriously diminished. Many times, fish will overlook every suspect chunk and leave you watching in crystal clear water as hungry fish devour every chunk in the click except the ones with hooks in them. Also, since we are always testing tackle limits with very light leaders to trick finicky fish, hook shape and performance also become crucial. We are ridding a fine line where we are counting on our small gauge hook to maintain its integrity with 20 or more pounds of drag and we are also depending on it to grab perfectly in the corner of the fish's mouth to keep our 50 pound leader and knot away from your quarry’s sharp surfaces near the mouth.

    There are two primary methods for chumming. The first has mass quantities of meat going over the side and is typically used when a large variety of species is expected to show up, thereby consuming a large portion of your chum, close to the boat and before it can reach most of the targeted gamefish. Fishing Midnight Lump for example, off the coast of Louisiana or Hannibal Bank in Panama, typically vast quantities of bait are used since competition is so fierce with a lot of by-catch species around feeding in your slick. In these cases, its almost like you are using your slick to generate a lot of commotion and keep baitfish around your boat to attract curious gamefish from below. This method requires that at least one member of the crew is tasked with maintaining the slick, full-time in order to first attract your target species and then keep them behind your boat, feeding. This is a labor intensive, dirty, but highly effective method of fishing.

    The second method of chumming is much less intensive but requires the right conditions in order to be successful. In very clear water, when finicky tunas get a good look at your presentation, it becomes very hard to trick them into taking a chunk with a hook in it. And I believe that the fish usually see the line and or hook as well and if put in a situation where they don’t have to take the chunk with a hook in it…they won’t! In these cases, where there is little by-catch to disrupt the steady flow of meat down your slick, a much more subtle approach works best. Here, start with a slow steady stream of bait, almost completely small chunks, and create at least 50-foot slick (more or less depending on the sea state, current conditions and the boat’s rate of drift away from the slick). When ready, deploy a hooked bait into the slick and allow it to drift naturally way back into the slick to even fool the most wary gamefish, hovering way back from the boat. Typically, in these types of situations, use the lightest terminal tackle you can conceivably get away with. The lightest hook possible with a light fluorocarbon leader. 

Here are some other keys to consider while utilizing these types of fishing methods.

    One major factor in using such undersized tackle is the necessity of generating a successful hook set, in the corner of the fish’s mouth. Luckily, this style of fishing makes it easy. You can assume, judging by the size of your baits in relation to your quarry, that once you get a pick up, the fish has your entire piece of bait in its mouth allowing you to immediately set the hook, and stay away from gut hooking (which allows your light leader to rub across the fish’s teeth during the course of the fight). Also, the method in which you pay out line is also important in that you want to make sure there is enough slack in the water so that the line never pulls tight from your hand or the rod tip. This will help make sure that your hooked bait sinks as naturally as possible, generating more strikes. Be careful however, that you don’t get so far ahead of the sinking chunk that you have too much excess line floating around that can become tangled or prevent you from realizing that your bait has been picked up by a fish, thus causing you to be late in your hook set.

    Other important factors to consider are your drag tension at strike and the method you intend to use to set the hook. Your drag should left in free spool with the clicker on, with enough tension so that your reel will not backlash once a powerful fish hits. This shouldn’t really be a factor once you get the hang of releasing the line and setting the hook. The proper technique is to pay out line from the rod tip and watch your slack line in the water. The moment the line pulls tight, release it immediately without causing any unnecessary tension that a wary fish might feel, and go strait to the reel. Once line starts screaming off the reel, come tight with the drag with the pole still set firmly in the rod holder, (note: a lever drag reel is an absolute necessity while utilizing this method of fishing) all the way to strike to set the hook with authority. Once the fish has turned, line should be screaming off the reel. At this point, back off the drag a hair and feel free to remove the pole from the rod holder and hand it too the angler.