Bunker & Clam When Chunking

[upchuck]

ANYONE USE BOTH IN THE BAY IN THE FALL WITH ANY POSITIVE RESULTS?:confused:

[OneMoreDrift]

I have used both and have had success, give it a go.

[OneLastCast]

The last time out about a week and a half ago we did well using both clam and bunker. Mixed it into a soup and ladled it out. Seemed to produce better the heavier we bailed. We landed two in the 30# class. At the end of the day we dumped everything we had left including leftover noggins, within 5 min the last rod still in the water started screaming, 42lbs and she had two bunker heads in her stomach when cleaned. We also had fun catching crockers and shorts on seabass rigs with clam strips while we waited for the big ones.

[Reel Nice]

Last few times out I got a bag of clambellies and 3doz bunker I mixed up the bellies in a cooler with bay water and set up a clam slick The clams must have pulled them in close enough to see the bunker chunks and we caught fish while others around us did not.. I think those smelly clams are like an appetizer to lure them in and the chunks are the main course.. It has worked every time so far and I will always fish with both from now on!! By the way 3 doz were too much 'cause I always have bunker left over..

[upchuck]

Reel Nice; Thank For The Info. Clam Bellys & Buncker, I'll Give It A Try:)

[Reel Nice]

No problem try it and let me know.. My boat is pulled and I'll be on the beach for the next month or so.

[legalease]

Reel nice etc. - Thanks for the great tips. I was out today at 6:00 a.m. on the top down tide. I chunked clams every 5 minutes (about a handful) and let them drift on the outgoing tide under the boat. I had two lines in w/ fish finder rigs hooked up with clams on a # 7 hook and had what appeared to be small bites (rod dipped slightly) and I picked up right away and the bait was either gone or nipped up. I have had marginal luck in this spot in the past. The location is in the back bay - S. Isle at the junction of a wide creek and the channel in a bout 12' of water close to a sod bank. For future reference, what do you recommend for:
1. chunk mix
2. how often and how much overboard
3. let it drift into your lines?
4. setting the hook
5. location in the bay? (i.e. against sod banks?, how deep? what structure? Up a wall? in the channel? anchored? fish finder rig?)
Thanks in advance for any tips on any of the above questions and sorry to throw so much at you. Great thread.

[Reel Nice]

I'm no expert but I would anchor somewhere at the mouth of the creek where it meets the bay .. Look for a drop-off from the creekmouth into the larger body of water..Or find a deep sided sod bank with protrusions and cut outs along its length mix up your clams with bay water ..in a cooler or 5 gal bucket .. use a long leader -Flurocarbon like pink Yozuri 50# test.. with a 5/0, 6/0 ,7/0 Gami hook (octopus) not circle..make the leader at least 36"-40" 1 hook at the bottom 1 150# barrel swivel tied with a good knot like a Palomar.. Fishfinder rig with enough sinker to hold bottom not to heavy, fish 1 rod with no sinker and cast out into the current behind the boat try different distances with a couple of rods..Hook the clam only once so it does not spin.. good luck ,, Like I said I'm no expert but that worked for me and many experienced anglers from the BB gave me this same advice I tried it and it worked ..Oh I almost forgot when the fish bite/ take the bait wait about 20-30 seconds to set the HOOK make sure you reel in a buch of line so when you yank the rod the slack is out of the line and the hook sets in the fish .. Its hard to explain you have to practice it but dont yank the rod like a mad man, take up the slack and set the hook smoothly after you let him run a little bit

[williemilkem]

hey joe,, reel in how much? till you feel a little pressure then set? what if your using braid..i use the shimano bait runner with power pro braid.. if the fish takes off wont that take the slack out of line?let it go for 5 secs and then set???

[Reel Nice]

I guess that sounds right..I really don't know because when it happens I never really count how long!! I had fish come off at the boat after fighting them for over 5 mins.Now I let it run start reeling fast to take the "bend" out of the line and the pull up on the rod a couple of times to make sure they are hooked.. I think !! Good Luck .....