how many flats?
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
Joined
·
220 Posts
3 Butter
2 Sardine
2 Peanut Bunker
1 Herring
2 Sardine
2 Peanut Bunker
1 Herring
Joined
·
837 Posts
How many flats? As many as it takes
Who catches the most fish chunking? We have done the same thing for quite a while & some trips we limit out, others we pick at them. Listening to my crew is one of the great joys of offshore fishing: they go from high fives all night long, to wispering that it's my fault. Here are some reasons they have given for a poor night bite: It's the hi-vis line, we're in the wrong place, we have the wrong chunk bait, the bait is old, we are throwing too few chunks, we are throwing too many chunks, the leaders are too short, the boat makes a funny noise, we should be tied up, we should be drifting, there is too much natural bait in the water, etc. etc. To top it off, there is always someone on the radio who has caught more fish than us. Some nights, doing the same exact thing, we are bailing the fish out of the water. Invariably, on a slow night I come up on deck to see what's going on & find one guy just standing there looking into the water, or catching squid when we already have a tank full. #1 reason we catch or don't catch? The guy throwing the chunks. I'm awake at least 26 hours out of a 32 hour trip and have many responsibilities beyond everyone elses, so when it comes to fishing at night the crew either makes it or breaks it.
After a long talk on the phone with Boonebird I'm convinced that his catch rate is high because his attention span is high. I'm shure that more chunks can't hurt, but Boonebird, just the fact that you are paying attention accounts for more than half your fish. I look forward to watching you in action sometime soon.
This post edited by asiegel 11:12 AM 07/11/2008
Who catches the most fish chunking? We have done the same thing for quite a while & some trips we limit out, others we pick at them. Listening to my crew is one of the great joys of offshore fishing: they go from high fives all night long, to wispering that it's my fault. Here are some reasons they have given for a poor night bite: It's the hi-vis line, we're in the wrong place, we have the wrong chunk bait, the bait is old, we are throwing too few chunks, we are throwing too many chunks, the leaders are too short, the boat makes a funny noise, we should be tied up, we should be drifting, there is too much natural bait in the water, etc. etc. To top it off, there is always someone on the radio who has caught more fish than us. Some nights, doing the same exact thing, we are bailing the fish out of the water. Invariably, on a slow night I come up on deck to see what's going on & find one guy just standing there looking into the water, or catching squid when we already have a tank full. #1 reason we catch or don't catch? The guy throwing the chunks. I'm awake at least 26 hours out of a 32 hour trip and have many responsibilities beyond everyone elses, so when it comes to fishing at night the crew either makes it or breaks it.
After a long talk on the phone with Boonebird I'm convinced that his catch rate is high because his attention span is high. I'm shure that more chunks can't hurt, but Boonebird, just the fact that you are paying attention accounts for more than half your fish. I look forward to watching you in action sometime soon.
This post edited by asiegel 11:12 AM 07/11/2008
Joined
·
217 Posts
MakoMike wrote:
asiegel wrote:
I'm shure that more chunks can't hurt,
Andy,
I'll think you'll find a lot of folks that disagree with that.
Well i dont. I will use the Headboats for an example 20+ flats a night. When I used to seine spearing and work on some headboats. I would add 15 or more 5 gallon buckets to the mix. If and when the tuna are on the meat throw as much as you can you will not turn them off. This is particularly important as fall comes around and the fish are "fattining up".
As for how much you need? as much as you can afford or hold.
Ben
asiegel wrote:
I'm shure that more chunks can't hurt,
Andy,
I'll think you'll find a lot of folks that disagree with that.
Well i dont. I will use the Headboats for an example 20+ flats a night. When I used to seine spearing and work on some headboats. I would add 15 or more 5 gallon buckets to the mix. If and when the tuna are on the meat throw as much as you can you will not turn them off. This is particularly important as fall comes around and the fish are "fattining up".
As for how much you need? as much as you can afford or hold.
Ben
Joined
·
1,815 Posts
We usually bring 20plus flats on a party boat but not all of it gets chunked at chum. With 30-50 people fishing you tend to use 5+ flats just for hook baits. Many boats also begin chunking early as much as 3-4 hours before sunset. Also with a larger vessel and in trying competition we throw a wider chum line. We carry more than the private boat but we also use more for hook baits so its not as much chum as one would think
Joined
·
837 Posts
Makomike wrote:
asiegel wrote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm shure that more chunks can't hurt,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy,
I'll think you'll find a lot of folks that disagree with that.
Anyone who disagrees with me is welcome as crew on my boat
![]()
asiegel wrote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm shure that more chunks can't hurt,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy,
I'll think you'll find a lot of folks that disagree with that.
Anyone who disagrees with me is welcome as crew on my boat
One flat an hour is what it comes down to for us.
We set up a chum chucker. That acounts for 5 to 6 flats a night. We never stop chuncking. Then when they squides/ mahi /tuna show eating chunks nothing like having an extra 5 gallon bucket all cut up ready to start throwing when needed. We also have large hooked baits ready to go. No we dont throw whole butters.
Last year we had a not so good year trolling. Every trip was a chunk trip. If its not broke dont fix it. We averaged about 14 fish a night chunking most nights we gave up with no place to stock pile tuna. 2am done.
Som e nights when you get into sept. We will have 10 flats on board with one going over at the end of the night. Its always fun to watch tuna that have been in the lights eating chunks all night to come up to a 5 gallon bucket of chum at 6 am and go nutzz over it.
Andy Its looking like it might be another great year. Well its a great year if you only read the canyon runner reports. I look foreward to the chance to fish on your ride or have you on your battle wagon. One way or another we will have a good trip.
This post edited by Boonebird 04:34 PM 07/11/2008
We set up a chum chucker. That acounts for 5 to 6 flats a night. We never stop chuncking. Then when they squides/ mahi /tuna show eating chunks nothing like having an extra 5 gallon bucket all cut up ready to start throwing when needed. We also have large hooked baits ready to go. No we dont throw whole butters.
Last year we had a not so good year trolling. Every trip was a chunk trip. If its not broke dont fix it. We averaged about 14 fish a night chunking most nights we gave up with no place to stock pile tuna. 2am done.
Som e nights when you get into sept. We will have 10 flats on board with one going over at the end of the night. Its always fun to watch tuna that have been in the lights eating chunks all night to come up to a 5 gallon bucket of chum at 6 am and go nutzz over it.
Andy Its looking like it might be another great year. Well its a great year if you only read the canyon runner reports. I look foreward to the chance to fish on your ride or have you on your battle wagon. One way or another we will have a good trip.
This post edited by Boonebird 04:34 PM 07/11/2008
Joined
·
322 Posts
On a slow night, probably 7 flats. On a good night, at least 10.
I just picked up a Chum Chucker and look forward to seeing it in action.
FWIW, we went about 50% Butterfish and 50% Sardines last year and did well.
BTW, can anyone recommend the best place to buy flats in the Niantic - CT Shoreline area?
I just picked up a Chum Chucker and look forward to seeing it in action.
FWIW, we went about 50% Butterfish and 50% Sardines last year and did well.
BTW, can anyone recommend the best place to buy flats in the Niantic - CT Shoreline area?
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
