| The basic idea behind chumming is to | | | | |
| encourage fish to eat something with no hooks | | | | The ground mossbunker is then added and the |
| attached in the hope that they will later | | | | whole mess is stirred around until it is the |
| take something with a hook. Chumming also | | | | consistency of a thick soup. Then one or two |
| attracts fish in large numbers to a certain | | | | anglers start ladling the stuff over the side |
| spot. Instead of the angler moving about in | | | | of the boat in order to form a chum slick. In |
| search of fish, he can stay in one spot and | | | | this slick, the oil spreads in a broad band |
| wait for the fish to come to him. Mainly, | | | | on the surface of the water and extends for |
| however, the idea is to fool the fish with a | | | | several hundred feet behind the boat. The |
| free handout and dispel his suspicions so | | | | particles of bunker sink to varying depths |
| that he will more readily take a baited hook. | | | | under the chum slick. Tuna and other fish get |
| | | | the scent of the oil and juices and follow it |
| Various methods and techniques are used in | | | | up to the boat. |
| chumming, and the angler who knows and | | | | |
| practices them will often catch fish when | | | | Most tuna fishermen also get whole bunker and |
| ordinary casting or trolling methods fail to | | | | cut them into big chunks, which they toss |
| produce. You'll find a long list of game fish | | | | overboard into the chum slick as an added |
| and bottom fish which respond to chumming | | | | attraction. Butterfish, mackerel, herring and |
| like a gang of hungry ranch hands to a dinner | | | | whiting can also be cut up and thrown out. |
| bell. In fact, to catch certain fish chumming | | | | This gives the tuna something to swallow and |
| is almost a must. | | | | holds their interest. |
| | | | |
| Take the giant tuna, for example. Although a | | | | Next, of course, you bait up a big tuna hook |
| few big fish are caught by trolling or | | | | with a whole bunker, herring, mackerel, |
| drifting with whole fish baits, the great | | | | butterfish or whiting and let it drift out |
| majority of tuna fishermen depend on chumming | | | | naturally in the chum line. Finally you hope |
| to get results. They use ground menhaden or | | | | a big tuna will take it. |
| mossbunker, called "bunker" for short. | | | | |
| | | | Whole bait fish are also used on the |
| This flat, deep bodied fish, which averages | | | | "live-bait" boats which leave from many ports |
| about a foot in length, is seined | | | | in Southern California. These boats are |
| commercially for its oil. Millions of pounds | | | | equipped with big bait tanks, where sardines |
| are caught annually. And each year more and | | | | and anchovies can be kept alive. The live |
| more of these fish are being diverted for use | | | | bait fish are thrown into the water a few at |
| in chumming. In three days, the U. S. | | | | a time. |
| Atlantic Tuna Tournament has been known to | | | | |
| use up 85,000 lbs. of bunker chum. | | | | This brings around such game fish as tuna, |
| | | | yellowtail, albacore, bonito and barracuda. |
| Menhaden or bunker can now be bought fresh, | | | | When a fish is hooked or seen swirling behind |
| iced or frozen, either by the bushel or in | | | | the boat, the anglers put a live anchovy or |
| cans or blocks. Whole bunker are sold by the | | | | sardine on a hook, cast it out and let it |
| bushel and must be ground by the angler. | | | | swim around in the water. In this type of |
| Those sold in cans or frozen in blocks are | | | | fishing, it is important to use small hooks |
| already ground and ready to use. The usual | | | | and fine leaders in order to fool the fish. |
| method of chumming begins with the | | | | |
| acquisition of a big container, such as a | | | | This method is tried and true, and used |
| garbage can, filled with sea water. | | | | correctly, will produce marvelous results! |