MUSHIN - Southern Tuna Lumps Still Producing on the Chunk!

[Mushin Sportfishing]

MUSHIN put away the tuna trolling gear the last few trips out of Cape May...and pulled out the TUNA CHUNKING gear!!! We had plenty of bites and action on these lumps, with even better bites during the weekday trips! Fighting and landing the 50-65# yellowfin were not always as easy...as anglers had to adjust to the super light fluorocarbon leaders (they bit best on 30#) and tiny hooks resulting in many busted off fish and pulled hooks. This is much more finesse fishing than brute strength, with fights often lasting over an hour on 9 pounds of drag pressure. These tunas seem to move from lump to lump on a daily basis, so there's some looking around for them in the morning. But when we find them, it's like old-fashioned tuna chunking with multiple hook ups and the anglers doing the tuna shuffle in the cockpit, weaving their hooked fishes between each other.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Mushin Sportfishing

MUSHIN put away the tuna trolling gear the last few trips out of Cape May...and pulled out the TUNA CHUNKING gear!!! We had plenty of bites and action on these lumps, with even better bites during the weekday trips! Fighting and landing the 50-65# yellowfin were not always as easy...as anglers had to adjust to the super light fluorocarbon leaders (they bit best on 30#) and tiny hooks resulting in many busted off fish and pulled hooks. This is much more finesse fishing than brute strength, with fights often lasting over an hour on 9 pounds of drag pressure. These tunas seem to move from lump to lump on a daily basis, so there's some looking around for them in the morning. But when we find them, it's like old-fashioned tuna chunking with multiple hook ups and the anglers doing the tuna shuffle in the cockpit, weaving their hooked fishes between each other.

And imagine years ago we did not have floro.Shoe polish to take the shine off the Ande line lol

[Pennsy Guy]

What an excellent report---that got my blood racing!!!As I've grown older I've turned to light tackle more & more...you are so right, it's finesse, forget the brute strength. Yea, you'll break off a few but bringing one to gaff?---Aaahhhh, what a feeling...kudos to you and your anglers during the week...keep it up!!!!

[Mushin Sportfishing]

Capt Sal - you are so right LOL! When line choices were pink or clear Ande! And a Mustad 94150 was the "only" tuna hook out there!

Pennsy Guy - definitely a lot of fun on light tackle - and today's light tackle does so much and so much better! A couple of weeks ago we had Invisible Ralph and friends landing them on fluking outfits (yes, the ones you use in the river!). It just takes time and finesse to bring em boatside, but on a 6-pack charter situation it's a little easier to work together and boat fish on light tackle.

Also please check our Facebook page for all the pictures of our past few trips!