Chumming Tips 

 

Chum Bags & Chum Baskets

I use a lot of chum so it comes naturally that I have Shark problems from time to time. Most of the time I use the orange plastic mesh bags but they are mighty prone to Shark damage and they are also an environmental hazard. 

My friend Joe Graves made me a chum "basket" out of 1/2" mesh galvanized hardware cloth. I can use the boxed chum in it and I seem to get more action as it puts out more and larger chunks. Granted, a box of chum doesn't last as long as the bagged stuff..

 This chum "Basket" is nothing more than a metal mesh box with the top open. I drop the frozen chum in the basket and tie it shut with the line I hang it on.  Joe sized it to fit a standard 5# chum or bait box. 

It gets bit by Sharks but they usually only bite it once. Big Tigers eat the whole thing. They keep biting and yanking until they get the bag. 

 When I am chumming for bottom fish, I use the orange bags hooked on my Jewfish rig. I catch a Jewfish or big Shark pretty often this way. 

Mesh Laundry bags work too but they can get to stinking mighty bad if you don’t wash them carefully.

 

Chum Churn Modifications

 I started modifying my Chum Churn before I ever chopped bait in it.  

 First I added a safety line to the filler cap. I made the safety line out of 300# mono. One end has a loop that fits tightly around the filler spout, attached with a double barrel leader sleeve pulled tightly so that it will not slip off. The other end of the safety line has a crimp on electrical terminal with a 1/4" hole. I drilled a 1/4" hole in the filler cap, inserted a 1" X 1/4"-20tpi machine screw thru the terminal then thru the cap and screwed on a self locking nut. The safety line has just enough slack to allow easy removal of the cap. The cap is safe and operates easily. 

Second, I made a safety line for the entire Chum Churn out of 300# mono. It attaches to the "Hook" portion of the CC between the vinyl cover and the bolt that limits the travel of the churn. It is secured with a double barrel leader sleeve. The opposite end of the safety line has a 6" loop for a hollow base cleat. Again, I used a leader sleeve to form the loop. 

Third, I wrote my boat name on the CC in several places for security sake. 

Finally, I made a ring out of hot orange tape to wrap around the CC again for security.  

I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing the world that I can't improve upon, foul up---or break.

 

Chum Chunker

I bought 3 identical knives at the Sheriff's Youth Ranch Store.  (Good Will works too) These are large, serrated edge stainless steel butcher knives.

I removed the handle from 2 of the knives then removed the hilt from these 2.  (Dremel tool with abrasive cutting wheel)

Next I drilled a 1/8" hole 1” from each end of each blade. (note: Hole alignment is critical.)

Next I took 4 small blocks of 1/2” Starboard and drilled 1/8” holes in them. These blocks are spacers.

I attached the 2 handleless blades, one on either side of the knife with the handle, using the spacers to keep them spaced.  

This 3 bladed knife cuts 3 chunks off a Sardine Menhaden or Cigar minnow with one easy stroke, making chum chunking an easier chore.

 

Scallop Chum (Actually for Sheepshead)

Next time you go scalloping, save the guts you suck out of the scallops with your shop vacuum.  Dump the canister of your shop vac into a large jar and keep it on ice until you get home.  Freeze and store the scallop guts in pint Tupperware containers. 

This stuff makes great Sheepshead chum. 

 

Sheepshead Chum from the Grocery Store

Try this next time you go Sheepshead fishing.  Buy a few bottles of CLAM JUICE used in gumbo and a few cans of either minced crab and/or minced clams. All are about a buck each! GO TO YOUR FAFORITE HOLE AND START CHUMMING.   This really turns the bite on. Don’t forget the can opener!!! 

Thanks to Capt. Morgan for this tip. 

Added:  Cook 1 pound of regular white rice, drain and cool with ice water.  Drain again and add the Clam Juice to it and allow it to soak over nigh while keeping it cold.  Work great for Drum and Sheepshead.  Of course, in the summer, Pinfish will be there in hordes.

 

Chum Choice by Species

In the summer time I use lots of chum. In the sallow, hot water I frequent, you gotta hedge your bet anyway you can. Chumming is a great way.  

Target species determines the chum ingredients and size of chum. 

Redfish--My favorite is cracked Blue crab. Broken live shrimp is great followed by broken fresh dead.

Sheepshead--Cracked coon oysters, barnacles, cracked crab, broken fresh shrimp.

Black Drum--Same as above.

Mackerel--Frozen chum block and some Menhaden oil in a drip bottle. Chop up a few minnows (small chunks) from time to time but don't feed the Macks. Use only enough chum to keep 'em interested.

Cobia and Kingfish—Same as Mackerel but use more and bigger chunks.

Baitfish—Canned cat food or Jack Mackerel mixed with cooked rice or bread.  

When you hook a fish, don’t pull the chum bag all the way in. Keep the chum going.  

If you are chumming for Mackerel, be prepared for bigger fish to horn in occasionally. Keep heavy tackle at hand. You will definitely loose a Mackerel or two to Sharks and Cudas when chumming.   You can use rotten chum in the right location and catch more fish than you will using the best chum in the wrong location.

 

Chumming for Bottom Fish

  Cut a chum block into 6 equal pieces while it is still frozen. Place one of these pieces in a small paper sack along with a half dozen Sardines cut into 4 pieces. 

Snap a 32oz sinker to the end of the line on a heavy rod.  Put the sinker inside the sack and poke a couple of feet of line down inside the sack and twist the sack closed.  Take a couple of half hitches around the twisted portion of the sack.  Drop sack to bottom and reel up 6' or so. Allow it to sit there for a few seconds then make a couple of sharp yanks on the rod. The sinker will break thru the bag dumping out the chum right in the area you are fishing.  

This will often start or revitalize a bite for most bottom fish.

 

Chumming for Cobia off Destin and P’Cola

When the Cobia run is in full swing, Cobia that gets in the area of the passes are home free for a little while because they are hard to spot in deep water. This is a great equalizer for boats without towers if you know this trick. 

I fished Destin for 5 years and in P'cola for 6.  Every spring, I'd anchor outside the pass and chum---HEAVILY)  On outgoing tide (my favorite) I'd anchor on the East side of the pass, fairly close in. On the incoming tide, I'd anchor on the East side of the pass further offshore--a little further out than where the tower boats were cruising.  

Live bait under a float, live bait on a heavy sinker suspended about 5' off the bottom and one free swimmer. Hold a bait is right at the boat for a pitch bait. All baits are rigged with wire because Kingfish can be a problem. 

 Deploy one chum bag on the surface and another at 20'.  Fish for Mackerel and any bottom fish that comes by. Chop 'em for chum. When you get a Cobia hookup, try to get another bait close to him.   Expect multiple hookups. 

Believe me, this works. Always has, always will.

 

Deep Water Chumming with Menhaden Oil

Soak broken pieces of cinder block in Menhaden oil over night.  When you get anchored, drop them to the bottom. The crushed rock used for road building will soak up Menhaden oil and release it slowly too. It can be be broad cast over an area. Sometimes it will liven up a sluggish bite from bottom fish.  

I often cut Menhaden Oil 50:50 with cheap cooking oil and it still gets the job done.

 

Chum Tossing--More Range

Credit for this one goes to Al from West Coast Nets.  When you're tossin’ chunks or livies any distance and don’t want a sore arm you can use one of those hollow plastic ball bats.  Cut off the big end, put in a few chunks or baits and toss away.    You'll get a lot of distance without much effort.

Thanks to Miker2 

I like this one.  I'm going to keep an eye out for a bat in the flea market. Besides throwing far, I'm sure the bat holds a bit of chum too.

ED F. 

What about using an open scoop like a Jai-Alai basket? We use to play a game as kids with a plastic ball and a scoop about 2 feet long. It would be easy to load and clean up, plus I think it could be easier to target where the chum was being flung to.

David Spradlin.