Chunking is patient, methodical tuna fishing, and at night it comes into its own. Anchored or drifting on a productive edge, you feed a steady stream of cut bait into the current to build a slick that draws tuna up to the boat, then drift hook baits back into it. The after-dark hours are frequently the most productive of an offshore trip, when tuna feed with their guard down.
Setting the slick
The slick is the whole game. Cut bait, butterfish, herring, squid or mackerel, into chunks and feed them into the current at a steady, consistent pace so a continuous scent trail runs away from the boat. Tuna follow it up-current right to your baits. An inconsistent slick lets fish lose the trail and drift off; a steady one keeps them coming.
Fishing the baits
- Match your hook baits to the chunks so they blend in, hook hidden, on a leader appropriate to the fish.
- Stagger depths. Drift baits back at different distances and depths (with just enough weight) to find the level the fish are feeding.
- Drift drag-free. Let each hook bait tumble down-current at the same speed as the free chunks, tension or drag gets it refused.
- Use circle hooks, let the fish take and turn, then come tight and let the hook find the corner of the jaw.
Tip Manage light carefully at night. Underwater LED lights can draw bait and fish to the boat, and keeping deck lights sensible protects your night vision, but always fish safely, know your position, watch for traffic, and keep the crew aware in the dark.
Gear
Stout conventional stand-up outfits with high capacity and strong, smooth drags, matched with appropriate leaders and circle hooks. Dependable Daiwa reels with the drag to turn a fish in the dark are the tool for the job. For the finicky version of this bite, see bluefin on butterfish.