12-10-2007, 02:43 PM
When I target larger fish from a pier, such as king mackeral, I use Menhaden oil to create a slick that goes out with the tide. In other words, chumming. Any kind of chum will do, just go with what ever is native to the side of the planet you're fishing. So, you wouldn't want to use menhaden oil on the west coast, and you wouldn't want to use sardine oil on the east coast. etc.. etc.. You can also make your own hard chum by grinding up the remains of the local forage and freezing it into a block. Freezing it is the trick. it will slowly thaw and dizolve in the water, creating a nice, controled slick in the water that will be sure to bring in the fish. Remember, the fresher the chum the better it works.
There is really only one thing that brings the fish into the breakers, that's bait. If the baitfish are running in the breakers, the big ones will be right behind them. Fish are where the food is. Chum is a no go in regards to surf fishing.
1. the waves will prevent it from actually staying in the water, in other words, your chum block will just wash back into shore
2. attempting to chum in the surf defeats the purpose. Creating a chum slick is to draw fish from a far to your location. Most scents derived in the surf tend to stay with in the breakers in regards to the "washing machine" effect of waves. You'd be wasting your time.
Chumming is only effective if the scent can travel with the current out far distances.
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There is really only one thing that brings the fish into the breakers, that's bait. If the baitfish are running in the breakers, the big ones will be right behind them. Fish are where the food is. Chum is a no go in regards to surf fishing.
1. the waves will prevent it from actually staying in the water, in other words, your chum block will just wash back into shore
2. attempting to chum in the surf defeats the purpose. Creating a chum slick is to draw fish from a far to your location. Most scents derived in the surf tend to stay with in the breakers in regards to the "washing machine" effect of waves. You'd be wasting your time.
Chumming is only effective if the scent can travel with the current out far distances.
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