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A good chum sets table for dinner

By ED WALKER
Published September 16, 2006

Late summer can be an excellent time to fish the offshore wrecks of the gulf. Most of these structures hold a variety of species, including permit, grouper, snapper, kingfish, barracuda, goliath grouper, sharks, and cobia. With so many potential targets, advance planning and preparation are important for a successful trip.

The list of things you should bring can be long. Fuel, safety equipment, and ice come first, followed by lots of fishing gear.

One crucial item is chum. Many charter operators carry two types on each trip: frozen blocks to hang in a mesh bag over the side, and a sand-ball mixture to spice things up on the bottom.

The sand-ball recipe varies among users, but the basic ingredients are ground chum, oatmeal, and sand. Some people add chopped sardines or glass minnows as well. To make a batch, start by thawing two or three frozen blocks and allow the juices and water to drain off. Keeping moisture out of the mix is crucial to getting the consistency right. When the blocks are thawed, which usually takes several hours, add about a half gallon of dry oatmeal to the mix. The oatmeal serves two purposes: it is the sticky part that binds the ingredients, and it is part of the chum itself. The oats absorb the remaining fish juices and becomes attractive to fish. Next, add the sand. Masonry sand works best, but regular beach sand will work in a pinch. Add enough so that the whole batch ends up being at least 50 percent sand. Mix it together and you have a chum that works wonders on grouper, snapper and most other bottom fish. It can also help draw pelagic species such as kingfish and tuna.

When you arrive at your chosen wreck, anchor up-current and double check your position before chumming. If you are off the mark, chumming will only pull some of the fish away from the structure, or simply drift out into empty water. Once you are sure that the wreck is directly down-current from the boat, it is time to drop a few "bombs." Grab a handful of the sand/chum mix and pack it into a ball about the size of an apple. Gently set it in the water before letting it go. If tossed too hard, they might break up at the surface. Drop 2 or 3 chum bombs and wait five or 10 minutes before fishing. As the chum is distributed around on the bottom by small fish such as grunts and snappers, the bigger fish gradually move in to investigate. By the time your baited hook reaches the bottom you should have a miniature feeding frenzy taking place below the boat. Periodically send down another chum bomb or two to keep the action going.

While things are happening on the bottom, be sure to have a frozen block of chum hanging on the surface. This helps draw the bonito, kingfish, and cobia, and mackerel into range, and it keeps them there. Between the scent on the bottom and at the surface you should soon have the attention of every hungry fish in the area.

This is when having a variety of tackle rigged and ready comes in handy. You never know what might cruise in next. One minute you may be hooking grouper on the bottom, then a king or cobia shows up on the surface. You may also have mangrove snapper fired up but need lighter tackle to get them to strike. If the sharks become a problem by stealing your fish, it is time to break out a heavy rig and turn the tables on them.

Several years ago Ralph Warner and I landed a 70-pound sailfish while anchored and chumming over a wreck in 75 feet of water off Tarpon Springs. Fortunately we had a spinning rod with a medium mono leader ready to cast a live bait when he showed up.

Our local wrecks have great potential if you know the proper techniques and have the right equipment.

[Last modified September 16, 2006, 07:02:13]