We have a rich tradition and culture: intricate craftsmanship and indigenous ways of inventing vessels to sail and use the surrounding sea. Our forefathers have explored and successfully used various fishing techniques, including those to catch the fastest, most unpredictable, and fiercest predators.Â
‘Koshun’ or ‘koshaagen kanneli beyvun’ is a technique that involves cutting bait into chunks and chumming and scattering it into the sea to draw yellowfin tuna and then releasing fishing lines to catch this active species. This is a method of chunking. And this is the hardest type of fishing.
When the sea is calm, in our language, when the sea becomes ‘thamala,’ it is time to set out to the open sea. We have witnessed this technique with our uncle, late Abdulla Rafeeq (Rafeegbe). He and other fishermen claim that you can use any bait fish for this method. There is no specific fish bait for this technique. However, they advise using a good piece of bait on the hook.
They use a wooden board to cut the bait fish. They cut the bait fish into small, thin pieces, approximately 2 inches in length. They cut the bait and throw pieces of chunk spaced about every 5 or 6 feet. The rate of descent varies depending on the current. While tossing the chunks, you can deploy fishing line. Yellowfin tuna are opportunistic feeders.
These are speedsters, and their continual movement allows them to eat constantly. Tuna will go wherever the food is. Food also moves with currents and changing water temperatures. The yellowfin tuna is one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean. Like some shark species, yellowfin tuna must constantly swim. In order to obtain oxygen from the water, fishes pass water over their gills. Tuna lack the ability to do so while halted, so they must continuously swim forward with their mouths open to keep their blood oxygenated. Just because you don’t see yellowfin tuna does not mean they are not there. Some people introduce hooked baits when the chunks disappear from view. Normally, 4 fishing lines are released from one side of the boat.
Chunking is an effective method when yellowfin tuna are not actively feeding on the surface. During this method, the scent of the baitfish attracts yellowfin tuna, drawing them closer to the boat and encouraging them to feed. This method is very effective when tuna are held deeper in the water column or when they are not responding to other methods.s.
