Chumming so to speak

[spectrum]

Yes this is about feeding the fish but not in the nauseous way.

I could ask this in a more general forum but I figure you're the folks that are up on the local critters. Let's say I wanted to see more fish on my dive. What would happen if I brought along some sort of bait like shrimp or something from a bait shop?

Would I get shredded by a school of bluefish or otherwise mauled? Has anyone ever tried such a stunt?



Pete

 

[reefseal]

I bring a knife and open up some of the big mussels that are clung to rocks and the fish go nuts. Don't bring cheeze wiz which I have seen some people do on Charters. I heard it's not good for the fish.

 

[ScubaSarus]

In RI I used to dive a certain just offshore wreck sometime twice a day because of the waters clarity and lots of sealife it attracted. I would go to the bait shop and get a box of squid and bag it up and have a blast feeding everything from skates to lobsters and large tautog. I would see the same fish there week after week (got to know a few of them through markings and one large on lived in a certain nook of the wreck).

I would anchor the flag on the wreck and go back to the car and tank up again and head back. Occasionally going out for a spell at Old Reef. Just a great way to spend a sunny afternoon.

In New England I see no problem as attacks by marine life are very rare unlike the reefs of the tropics were carrying bait could attract some very big predators that are always around. Bullsharks come to mind.

 

[reefseal]

Here you'll quickly attract dog fish. Woof woof.. A non-diver friend of mine will take me out on his boat to fish while I dive. He chums the water to attract fish. Much to his dismay, it attracts more dog fish than the fish he wants. From the depth looking up, the dogfish circling look menancing (only 2 to 3 feet) but at depth, they look bigger. Kind of like the scene in the deep where Nick Nolte and Robert Shaw encounter sharks as surfacing..

 

[fencingfish]

I've cracked open mussels before and held the meat in my fingers. Striped bass will take the meat right out of your hand. They don't like the bubbles though, so they'll come close to you to check you out as you're inhaling, but as soon as you exhale they're gone to right outside of the range of vis. But I have had them take bait right from my hand. One was intrigued by the silver reflective tape on my snorkel and started dive-bombing it. I didn't notice it but my buddy thought it was hilarious.

 

[Sean222]

In RI I used to dive a certain just offshore wreck sometime twice a day because of the waters clarity and lots of sealife it attracted. I would go to the bait shop and get a box of squid and bag it up and have a blast feeding everything from skates to lobsters and large tautog. I would see the same fish there week after week (got to know a few of them through markings and one large on lived in a certain nook of the wreck).

I would anchor the flag on the wreck and go back to the car and tank up again and head back. Occasionally going out for a spell at Old Reef. Just a great way to spend a sunny afternoon.

I have seen Ocean Triggerfish around that "certain just offshore wreck" of which you speak.

 

[ScubaSarus]

I have seen Ocean Triggerfish around that "certain just offshore wreck" of which you speak.

It is nice Sean. We did a night dive near it on a late summer night and the sound of the triggerfish was deafening. Like an underwater construction site with jackhammers.

 

[SailNaked]

I took a can of tuna fish(in water) to a reef off of a florida beach and opened it with a can opener, the locals went wild, it was a little un-nerving and I backed up away from the cloud of fish to watch. Jaws was a new movie back then and I was having visions of great whites. the can opener never did again it was DOA.

 

[trappist]

When I was doing this I usually found the stuff right there as this is what the eat as well: mussels, oysters these are good to get lobsters out as well but not for long ;o)
Depending on what you find you can try with urchins (ouch), snails or clams.
I personally do not like the idea of taking something with me in the water, but rather believe in finding all I need on the spot That is only my opinion, no offense !

 

[Green_Manelishi]

Yes this is about feeding the fish but not in the nauseous way.

I could ask this in a more general forum but I figure you're the folks that are up on the local critters. Let's say I wanted to see more fish on my dive. What would happen if I brought along some sort of bait like shrimp or something from a bait shop?

Would I get shredded by a school of bluefish or otherwise mauled? Has anyone ever tried such a stunt?



Pete

Unless they are a protected species, and if they are ... my bad ... you can sacrifice a sea urchin or other such critter.