Originally Posted By kingfish:
I just started boat fishing for rockfish on The Chesapeake Bay. I noticed that most people recommend, actually fresh bunker fish, for chunk. . What’s the deal with that? there’s plenty of white perch that I’ve been catching and would love to use that instead, as it’s free. but I don’t know I have no idea
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Old thread but thought I'd chime in anyways.
On the east coast menhaden (mossbunker, bunker, pogies) are an important forage species for many fish like striped bass and bluefish.
They are very oily. That oil is both good and bad for the angler. The oil spreads scent. It also ends up in the flesh of fish that feed on bunker. For example, bluefish that have been gorging on bunker will taste like ... bunker.
Bunker is a seasonal baitfish - when fishing you should match the hatch. Best times to use bunker is late spring, summer, and fall. I've fished all along the eastern seaboard and have tried leftover bunker in the chesapeake but ... at the wrong time. In early spring, you want to use bloodworms or sandworms.
Bunker is sold fresh and frozen. Best way to check on the quality of (not frozen) bunker is to look at the eyes. If the eyes are red, it's probably suboptimal. Clearer is better.
If you are a surfcaster and a flinging 8nbait into the surf - bunker is a bit problematic because it is somewhat frangible and will fly off the hook (especially frozen). That's why it's usually better for boaters.
If you don't have bunker, you can always use Atlantic mackeral. The flesh is firmer, almost as smelly, and, more importantly, it stays on the hook better than bunker.