Shad Chunk Bait

crabbait · 09-21-2005, 08:27 PM

Since June I have been wondering, what if you caught a bunch of shad, filleted them, cut the fillets into ribbon thin strips top to bottom so they have a think and a thin end, and brined them. Would tuna hit them?

You could cut them to length as you used them to "match the hatch". They should sink thick part down with the thin end trailing and wiggling. Think a tuna might find that worthy?

Spoonplugger · 09-21-2005, 08:33 PM

crabbait...it would be worth a try. Ling cod and halibut would, we know for sure. And a fish is a fish is a fish, after all.

Mark Mc · 09-21-2005, 08:52 PM

I did that with herring, for chum, the day we got 46 fish last month (both fillets cut into strips, and chunks). I'm not sure if the chunking helped that day. Sometimes you can see the chunks disappear....more quickly than the gradual sinking out of sight....as the tuna grab it. And later you clean a fish and find your chunks inside.

Commercial bait / jig boats use dead bait for chum when they can't get live bait. But I think they use it whole.

NorthRiverRick · 09-21-2005, 08:53 PM

Hmmmmm

I thinks I have me a dozen or so of them shad in the freezer. Just need one good day to try them....

I like it

wdlfbio · 09-21-2005, 09:30 PM

I caught quite a few just for that purpose. Too bad haven't gotten out enough to give it a shot. Still will work for crab bait though.

edsr · 09-22-2005, 10:38 AM

We tried chunking up some shad last Sunday but didn't get much response. We may have been too far away, the fish may have already gone down, they may not like shad, whatever the reason, the idea needs some more experimentation. Shad scales are large enough to create a good reflective pattern in the water, also hell to get off your boat when they dry.

edsr

Miss B Haven · 09-22-2005, 11:13 AM

Ed- Use a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and warm water. Just wipe it (heavy coat)on the scales (any scales not just shad) and let it dry. It takes the "glue" off. When you wash/rinse the boat down they come right off and don't re-stick. Most of them will actually curl up and fall off when they dry (no rinsing required). The mix is also a great general cleaner/brightner. It's all I use on my flybridge now so I don't have to have a lot of water around my electronics. Just a cloth dampened with the stinky mix. You kind of feel like a salad or a pickle till you get done. No smell/no residue when it dries though!

fish Addict80 · 09-22-2005, 01:59 PM

Be careful on what you use for chum. The regs state on page 95 the fish allowed to be used as chum. They are squid, herring, sardine, anchovy, smelt, pacific makeral. Don't know if you would get a ticket on this one but it seems kinda silly. You should be able to use whatever you wanted for chum. Just thought I would point that out so that no one gets in trouble.

Luke

jet · 09-22-2005, 02:27 PM

From what I remember Shad is a type of herring, allowed?

Jet~~~

fish Addict80 · 09-22-2005, 02:47 PM

What will the law say?

Tuna Tom · 09-22-2005, 07:12 PM

Chunking definitely works.

Don't be sloppy...hide the hook!

With chunking you don't need alot unless you are useing a "slurry slick". In either case the key is to keep a constant flow...even when the bite is on (very important!)

When you do throw your bait in, throw it in with a hand full of chunks. Dry to match the drift. Thus, if your weight line causes you to descend slower...put your bait in and then throw chunks on top. Lots of slack is key in order for a natural drift down. Don't be jerking the bait while pulling off more line. Floating chunks don't jerk around and the tuna do notice the difference. You want a free fall. It just takes a little bit of practice.

Also...chunking can bring in sharks...but tuna too. Don't be in such a rush to cut and run.

Also...if you park over jumping tuna and bait...the bait WILL hide under the boat. Every once in while a tuna or two will blast by and go for a swipe. Sooo, my point is again...don't cut and run. Bait under the boat can bring fish around. Of couse if you have electronics on and your favorite fishing song blasting on the player than maybe no dice on the bite.

Also, leave that tuna circleing around the boat a bit. Don't be in such a rush to sink the gaff. Lots of time his friend is around. He might look over from his friend and notice a free bait floating around.

Also...I may be full of $*^T...just an opinion from Tuna Tom

sandman · 09-22-2005, 08:30 PM

I still have 130 in the freezer if someone wants to take me tuna fish'n!!!