Fishing for small Bluefin Tuna

Question
I have a BW Dauntless 220 and am interested in fishing at some of the local inshore fishing spots such as the Atlantic City Ridge or the Sea Isle ridge. They are both approx. 15 to 20 miles offshore.  The fishing reports all say they are catching Bonito, Spanish Mackeral, Mahi, and Bluefin tuna in the 20 to 100lb range.  Also 3 or 4 wahoo have been caught.  None of these by me though.  My question is Troll or chunk?  What should I troll if trolling? How far back and what speed and depth?  If chunking, What is the best bait and time to chunk?

Answer
Hi Todd,

For trolling, please follow the link below and use it as a reference for your trolling pattern.

http://www.williamsonlures.14e1.com/how_to/index.php

The key to fishing is structure, where you find it, you find fish - this would mean, pinnacles, humps, legdes, drop offs, holes, floatsam, oil rigs, wrecks...etc.

Concentrate your efforts on these places. Before you plan on going, study a chart of the area you would be fishing in, find where the deep waters are and where the shallows are.

Daisy chains and Spreader bars are good for tuna get the smaller 3-4 inch squids for these D-chain and S'bar- (visit www.meltontackle.com to see examples of these lures) running small jetheads and small bulletheads together with your bar and chain would be an effecive pattern, remember to position your chain and bar closer to the boat than you would your single running lures.

As for chunking, the best time to do this is when you have already located the fish (caught one on the troll).

Someone has to be dedicated to throwing chunks in the water, 1 or two pieces per minute - you want the fish to taste and smell the food, so dont over do it by feeding them too much.

Good baits for chunking would depend on the baitfish thats in your area; pinfish, sardines, tuna, mackarel, crabs (YES CRABS!) are all good bait, you can also mix your bait.

Hope this helps and good luck!!! drop us a line when you caught one ok?

Thanks!!!