Making “no-sand” yellowtail snapper chum is an excellent choice for keeping your bait clean and targeting fish more effectively. Here’s a basic recipe for making an effective yellowtail chum without sand:
Yellow Tail Chum Ingredients
- Ground Fish: Use ground menhaden, sardines, pilchards, or similar oily fish. You can buy pre-ground fish or grind it yourself.
- Oatmeal: Rolled oats are ideal as they absorb the oils from the ground fish and release scent slowly into the water.
- Menhaden Oil (optional): Adding a bit of extra fish oil can increase the chum’s attractiveness, especially if you want to create a larger slick.
- Saltwater or Freshwater: To get the right consistency, you’ll need to add a bit of water, but avoid freshwater if you’re chumming in the ocean as it disperses differently than saltwater.
Instructions for Yellowtail Snapper Chum
- Prepare the Oatmeal: Pour the oatmeal into a bucket and add a small amount of water until the oats are damp and sticky. Don’t add too much water—just enough to get the oats to clump together.
- Mix with Ground Fish: Combine the damp oats with the ground fish. Mix thoroughly until the two ingredients are well blended.
- Add Oil (optional): Pour in some menhaden oil if desired, mixing it in until it’s evenly distributed. This creates a stronger scent trail.
- Adjust Consistency: Add a bit more water if needed to reach the right consistency. You want it to stick together loosely, so it disperses slowly but won’t just fall apart in the water.
Usage Tips for Yellowtail Snapper Chum
- Pack loosely in a chum bag: Place the chum in a mesh chum bag and hang it off the back of your boat. The current will help disperse the scent trail.
- Add periodically: You can throw small handfuls into the water every few minutes to keep the fish interested and closer to the surface.
This recipe is effective for attracting yellowtail without the need for sand, which can sometimes dilute the bait scent. This is a great way to boost your results when fishing for yellowtail snapper.
