[Mr. X]

Hi,
If I understand correctly, it sounds like Chum, chumming, bait balls, berley, rubby dubby & berleying refer to a technique akin to the coarse-fishing technique of laying down ground-bait (ground baiting)? In coarse fishing, ground bait is usually a doughy mixture that clouds in the water -- perhaps dropping mixed in bait, like maggots -- & is used to luredfish into the preferred hunting area & get them feeding.

From what I can gather, it sounds like chum or berley is used in much the same way but is more likely to consist of fish heads & guts from an earlier catch (perhaps frozen -- for storage & gradual release?). Sounds like this is common practice in SA for Tuna & Oz. Is anybody using this technique around the UK/Channel Islands or continental Europe? Any thoughts on the appropriateness/effectiveness/constituency?

Until now, I have beheaded & gutted fish at the sea shore & returned the entrails to the sea (for the crab, lobster, etc.). Although I am now thinking of saving it for crayfish/lobster bait ...and perhaps chum/berley.