DIY Chum

Chum is used as a fish and shark attractant by fishing boats.

Chumming is a fishing tactic used to lure sharks and fish close to an angler or fishing boat, which increases the chances of catching the prey. Chum is a mixture of a variety of ingredients that is usually placed in a container with holes for ventilation. The container is then tied to the area near the angler or over the side of the fishing vessel. You can make your own chum.

Things You'll Need

• Freezer bags
• 5-gallon bucket
• Long wooden handle
• Garden hose and water access
• 2 cups Menhaden oil
• 3 cans corn
• 12 cans cat or dog food
• 6 loaves wheat bread
• Food processor
• Can opener
• Freezer

Instructions

1. Put bread into the food processor and chop it until it reaches a fine consistency. Do not stuff the food processor until it is full. Loosely place the bread inside so that the blades of the food processor can function properly. Remove the processed bread and dump it in the 5-gallon bucket. Repeat the process until all of the bread has been chopped.

2. Open the cans of cat or dog food and dump the contents of each can into the bucket.

3. Open the cans of corn and dump the contents of each can into the bucket. Pour the corn into the food processor and chop until it reaches a fine consistency. Like with the bread, do not stuff the food processor until it is full. Remove the processed corn and dump it in the 5-gallon bucket. Repeat the process until all of the corn has been chopped.

4. Add a small amount of water to the mixture and stir the contents in the bucket with the long wooden handle. Continue adding small amounts of water and stirring until the mixture resembles a thick soup or stew.

5. Dump the Menhaden oil into the mixture. Continue stirring until the oil is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

6. Dump the mixture into the freezer bags until each bag is approximately 3/4 full and the mixture is gone. Seal the bags, double-check the seals, flatten each bag and place the bags in a freezer. Allow the mixture to freeze.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow the mixture to thaw to ambient temperature before use for the best results.

• Mixing chum can produce a large amount of odor. If you are sensitive to strong odors, wear a respirator mask. The oil used in this recipe will stain clothing and is not easily washed off surfaces. Prepare the mixture in an area that is well ventilated and will not be damaged by potential spills.

References

• Cap Mel: Making Your Own Chum for Whitebait
• North Carolina Sportsman: Chum's the word for saltwater