Canyon Chunking - Drift or Anchor?

[Fish Dad]

For chunking canyons at night, is it more productive to anchor or drift? And for you guys anchoring, are you typically trying along 50 fathoms on the walls of the canyon. How much anchor/chain is needed to anchor in 50 fathoms?

Thanks for any input.

[Double D]

FD -

I fish the canyons north of you, so it may be a different take on things

If the wind and current are cooperative, I prefer to drift. Why? Not limited to a particular depth and seem to draw more sword bites. That being said, it can sometimes be more difficult to keep the tuna with the boat when drifting and you may need to move several times during the night.

Anchoring makes the night more pleasant in bad conditions, don't have to worry about drifting into somebody, and can keep you on the bite if the fish are holding in a particular area

Up here, most people anchor on the 100 fathom curve. The rule of thumb is 3-1 for anchor rode

D

[Captain Brian]

It also depends on the bite some night the tuna are cruising so it is more productive to cover ground and drift. Other nights you can keep them behind the boat on the anchor.

[Big Jay]

I personally have always done better "tied up" then drifting. However, if you do anchor...be VERY careful there are no squid boats working the area. That can get bad real quick.