Chunking tuna setup advice

[Jigman13]

I'd got with offshoreafflicted's advice. Rent or borrow a set up. If you like it, save more money, up your budget and invest in a quality set up. If you're dropping $600+ per trip I would not go offshore without a set up built to maximize effectiveness and durability. Look towards shimano and penn. Tiagra, talica, internationals. Gotta pay to play.

[joy luck]

Hi Capt. Ed,

I fish the Voyager for tuna annually and they won't steer you wrong. Don't be afraid to let the mates know you're a newbie and they're always helpful. Rental might be the way to go before you invest a lot, but the chunking setup I use is right around your budget. I have a 6'8" fish poison rod from bogan with a 30vsw penn squall spooled with 60lb mono.

[John D.]

Surprised not to see an additional mention for the penn 16vsx. The 2 speed lever drag reel is perfect for chunking....lighter and smaller than a 30 but with more stronger and better drag. It’s a beast.

[bunker dunker]

the 4/0 is plenty big enough.i guess you have not been out on a party boat in a while for tuna.sure there are better but that 4/0 has caught plenty of tuna.your
and old salt,what did we do before the 2 speed and the 7 to 1 reels??? i have caught 100lb plus on a 4/0 and like i said i still use them.

[thefishermanmechanic]

I’ve seen a sword over 200# landed on a rental on the voyager. Wasn’t anything fancy!

[CaptEd]

Looking to get on one of the voyager trips. Tile fished when them a few times. First class operation all the way around

[CaptEd]

Originally Posted by bunker dunker

the 4/0 is plenty big enough.i guess you have not been out on a party boat in a while for tuna.sure there are better but that 4/0 has caught plenty of tuna.your
and old salt,what did we do before the 2 speed and the 7 to 1 reels??? i have caught 100lb plus on a 4/0 and like i said i still use them.

How true

[CaptEd]

Originally Posted by joy luck

Hi Capt. Ed,

I fish the Voyager for tuna annually and they won't steer you wrong. Don't be afraid to let the mates know you're a newbie and they're always helpful. Rental might be the way to go before you invest a lot, but the chunking setup I use is right around your budget. I have a 6'8" fish poison rod from bogan with a 30vsw penn squall spooled with 60lb mono.

Voyager is best in the business. Better than first class

[togzilla]

I’ve been tuna party boat fishing since 1994 and I think the best advice I can give you is go with a rental rod. The Voyager is my favorite boat and there rental equipment is perfectly fine. The tuna chunk bite for yellowfin/longfin has not been very good (overall)in the past few years so before you lay out $500 for a new set that may never even experience a bite go with the rental for your first time. If you really enjoy it and plan on going again stop by and see Kevin Bogan and he will set you up with the right rod. There were many good suggestions on reels by others so I am not going to comment other than make sure you’re buying a reel capable of holding at least 350-400yard of mono. You can also go smaller on the reel size and use braid with at least a 100 yards of mono top shot but make sure that reel has enough drag to handle the 100lb tuna or occasional large sword. Make sure you base your rod and reel decision on party boat tuna chunking as this requires different tackle than private boat chunking.
The first chunking trip I did in 1994 on a party boat I landed 5 yellowfin and the next day I went out and dropped $800 on a new set up and was hook for life. That’s back when the cost was $180 including tip! Good luck.

[Pennsy Guy]

As others have stated, I'd suggest using a boat rental set up for your first time out. Then, if you like tuna fishing, invest in an outfit---that's what a lot of us did. Some, like me, become addicted to tuna fishing. I've been upgrading & expanding the arsenal for the past 25+/- years...