Usually when you're out fishing at some of your favorite spots, fish are caught most of the time. Whether you're using artificial or live bait, most clients on board catch fish if they are present and feeding. Professional guides call it, chewing.
Sometimes you know there are fish at your locations, but for whatever reason, they don't want anything to do with the baits you throw. Now you cut off the top water plugs from your lines and tie on jigs and plastic tails to see if that helps. Also you try some live bait, shrimp or sardines to see if that makes a difference. This scenario could be weather related, water temperature, solunar tables or tides. Keep trying till you find the right combination.
Well now is the time to deploy "The Art of Chumming" using the chum bat.
The chum bat is a hollow plastic wiffle ball type bat with the top cut out so small bait and cut up pieces of fish can be dropped in. Then the fisherman will sling out the chum into the water. The bat allows you to throw lots of chum at greater distances than by hand. If you are fishing an area that's along a mangrove shoreline, put six to ten live baits in the bat and sling them out reaching the mangrove root line. This will excite any fish present and cause them to come out of the mangroves and strike the bait fish. You can also cut up bait into pieces, load the chum bat and toss them out. Chumming with cut bait works best when anchored and using current to carry the smell out some distance. Fish will pick up on the scent and hang around the chum waiting for your bait.
Chumming up the water in this fashion, will let you know instantly where the fish are. It will also bring the fish to a feeding frenzy. Any artificial or live bait cast into the mayhem, will get eaten.
Deploying the chum bat is a sure way to get the action going.
For more artickles and reports from Capt Gary, go to:
http://www.examiner.com/x-24414-Tampa-Fishing-Examiner
Capt Gary Burch
AllCatchCharters.com