5 Tips And Methods Of Using Chum For Saltwater Fishing

Last updated on September 11th, 2024 at 03:07 pm

Chumming is a fishing technique where bait, called chum, is thrown into the water to attract fish. Chum for saltwater fishing can be anything from fish oil, ground or cut-up bait fish, and even live bait. Anglers use chumming for the simple reason – IT WORKS!

They create a scent trail by tossing a mix of ground-up baitfish, fish parts, or artificial substitutes into the water. This trail lures fish into the area, triggers a feeding response, and improves your odds of catching fish.

There’s more than just tossing leftovers overboard. Chumming methods vary significantly. Some prefer frozen chum blocks that release scent and food particles slowly. Others prefer tossing chunks of cut baitfish. While still, others toss live baits to trigger fish to strike.

If you’re fortunate enough to find a shrimp boat culling its catch and tossing the bycatch overboard, you can benefit from their “free” chumming, and can often find a variety of fish feeding at the buffet.

Despite what many think, chumming isn’t a foolproof method nor universally accepted. You need to be in an area that holds fish and you also need to check the local regulations regarding chumming. Some areas feel it gives the angler an unfair advantage and have banned its use.

Is Chum for Saltwater Fishing Legal?

The question here revolves around the balance between angling enjoyment and environmental stewardship. Be aware, that different areas have distinct rules about chumming. Some areas might restrict or ban the practice, while in many areas it is perfectly legal and accepted.

By understanding and adhering to the local regulations, you contribute to conservation efforts while still enjoying the sport of saltwater fishing. Check with the local Fish and Game Department for the most up-to-date rules regarding the use of chumming for saltwater fishing.

The Effectiveness of Chum for Saltwater Fishing

But really, does chumming actually work? Absolutely, in fact, many anglers swear by it. Of course, it depends on the fish you’re targeting, but a good chum line draws baitfish that in turn draw larger predators. From sharks to kingfish, snapper to tuna, you can draw a wide variety of fish to a good chum line.

I’ve used chum for years to draw sharks and kingfish in the Gulf of Mexico. Fish have to hunt for food every day and rarely turn down a free meal. Consult local saltwater anglers and guides for the chumming techniques, and the fish you can bring in, that work in your area.

The professionals use targeted techniques adapted to local conditions and their desired target fish. Different species respond better to different chumming techniques. So, in short, effective chumming requires knowledge and specific tactics, not merely tossing scraps overboard.

Tips and Methods of Using Chum for Saltwater Fishing

There are a variety of chumming methods for saltwater fishing. Which one to use will depend on what you are fishing for, what is readily available for use as chum in your area, and the legality of chumming. Assuming it is legal to use, and effective for the fish you are after, the following are some of the more common chumming methods and tips.

Types of Chum for Saltwater Fishing:

1. Frozen-block chumming: This is a cheap and effective method that works for many species. A variety of baitfish or fish scraps are ground up and frozen in a block. The block is then placed in a mesh bag and suspended in the water column using a rope. As the block thaws, small particles, and fish oils are released into the water through the mesh attracting baitfish which then attract the large predator species.
2. Chunking: This involves cutting baitfish into chunks and creating a steady stream of them in the current. This is a very effective technique for drawing fish like snapper and tuna. Once you have fish in your chum line you can toss a piece of cut bait on a hook into the chum and hang on. 😉
3. Live-bait chumming: This involves a slow and steady stream of live bait. Live bait is always a no-brainer. It matches the hatch, and can really trigger a feeding frenzy. It is however an expensive chumming method unless you are able to catch your own live bait.
4. Fish oil attractants: This involves using menhaden oil chum with frozen-block chum. Fish oil makes a great chum line and produces an oil slick or sheen on the water. Mehnaden is a common baitfish with a very high oil content. The fish oil adds a strong scent trail to your chumming and brings fish in from long range.
5. Fish head and carcass chumming: This involves attaching a fish head or carcass to a line and floating it in the water. The larger the head or carcass, the bigger the fish you’ll attract. When you clean your catch you can save the head, carcass, and other discarded pieces to use as chum. You can even grind them and make your own chum blocks.

Chumming Tips for Saltwater Fishing

• Consider the tide, water direction, and chum sinking speed when chumming. Winds, tides, and currents affect the sink rate of your chum and how far and fast it travels.
• Keep a lid on the chum bucket when you’re not using it and discard the chum at the end of the day. It can get rotten fast in the heat of the summer, and the smell is …….well, not pleasant.
• Learn to use a cast net and catch your own baitfish for chumming. A cast net will pay for itself in no time. A cheap food processor is also a great money-saving tool for grinding and chopping baitfish and fish scraps to make your chum blocks.
• You can use a chum pipe, which is weighted with lead and shark-bite proof, to fill with chum and emit a strong odor and slick on the water. You can grind and freeze your chum in the chum pipe similar to a chum block.
• You can also use a plastic toy bat with the end cut off at an angle to throw chum. You can get a wider dispersal and more distance with your chumming. Placing live bait in a fish basket and lowering it into the water will also draw predators.

Final Thoughts: To Chum or Not to Chum for Saltwater Fishing?

My take? Chumming works. I use it as do thousands of saltwater anglers worldwide. It is a tried and true method of attracting fish and triggering a feeding response in them. As long as it is legal in the area you fish, and you adhere to size and bag limits, there should be no problem with using chum for saltwater fishing.

Chumming, in various forms, has been used by fishermen for thousands of years. But, to each his own, if you feel that chumming gives anglers an unfair advantage then don’t do it and please don’t harass those who choose to use chumming in their fishing strategies.

What do you think about chum for saltwater fishing? Do you use it? Have you tried it? Or, are you totally against it? Let me know in the comment section below. I’m interested to see what other saltwater anglers think about the issue.

As always, stay safe, enjoy the journey and please try to leave it cleaner than you found it. If you have any comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions please leave them in the comment section below and I’ll get back to you ASAP. You can follow us on Facebook: Rex The Beach Angler, Instagram: thebeachangler7, Twitter: @AnglerBeach, and YouTube: Man Art Creations.

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