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Trunctjt
New member
Username: Trunctjt
Post Number: 13
Registered: 07-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 08:47 am: | 
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I'm new to this, and looking for some opinions. Bought a slab of butterfish- now what?! Unless you guys tell me otherwise, here's what I plan on doing:
1) troll ballyhoos on top until I see fish on the scope down below.
2) switch over to 1" pieces of butterfish on 10/0 straight hooks and float those down, while dropping some chunks in the water up current from the fish.
3) drags set loose.
4) set hook as soon as fish hits.
All advice is appreciated. |
Jameytree
Intermediate member
Username: Jameytree
Post Number: 304
Registered: 09-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 10:10 am: |
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Your going to have a hard time hiding a 10/0 in a 1" chunk. Most guys that are good chunkers use whole sardines hooked through the eyes for hook baits. If the fish are finicky sometimes using a chunk on the hook is the ticket, but you need to downsize the hook and make sure it is well hidden in the bait. Run three to four rods. One set 5 to 10 cranks from the bottom another rod or two between the deep line and thermocline. Use balloons or shark floats and let them get away from the boat so that your hook baits are are in your slick..........deepest bait furthest from the boat. Last rod is hand fed with no weight. Throw chunks and strip line so the hook bait sinks at the same rate as the chunks. Keep a couple of spinning rods with small hooks handy. |
Blackbart
Member
Username: Blackbart
Post Number: 250
Registered: 03-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 09:14 pm: |
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Couple things:
You rarely see the tuna trolling. So find a historically productive place and work it.
Are you planning to anchor or drift? As Jamey states, do yourself a favor and take a 5 lb box of sardines along with the flat of butterfish.
Take some jigs with you and jig while you chunk.
Finally, with the current state of the bft - why chunk?
My idea of chunking is slowing my troll down to 4 kts. lol
"Can't catch em' sittin' at the dock" - Tred Barta
When you'll except nothing less than perfection: GW 306 Bimini
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Esquired
Senior member
Username: Esquired
Post Number: 1568
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 09:54 pm: |
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Blackbart wrote on Thursday July 22 2010 - 09:14 pm:
My idea of chunking is slowing my troll down to 4 kts. lol
When does that happen? I am getting huge forearms from, among other things, tossing jigs while trolling at 6 knts - man that is tough work!
www.ucHelpCenter.com
Dogfish - the other white meat
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Halfhitch
Senior member
Username: Halfhitch
Post Number: 1426
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010 - 11:52 am: |
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For the rods that you set in your rod holders, I wouldn't suggest that you leave them in free-spool (if that is what you mean by loose). Leave some tension on them or you may see a nice bird's nest in your reel.
Why would you not use circle hooks? |
Trunctjt
New member
Username: Trunctjt
Post Number: 14
Registered: 07-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 24, 2010 - 07:09 am: |
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Guys- thanks for the comments. I'm low on the learning curve and appreciate the advice. I'll be better prepared when I try this approach.
I'm all for trolling, and will continue so, but if fish are spotted on the scope far below, I thought that chunking was an option to attract them. I plan on heading out on Tuesday, hoping you guys have a left a few in the water for me! |
