[blaiz]

In Hawaii we chum probably 60 to 70 percent of the time(to some degree).

In fact, I dove an a wreck yesterday and chummed up a couple of opelu (mackrel scad) and was able to nail a 8lb uku(green jobfish) in mid column as I was comming up off the bottom. He was munching on bits of chum and paid no attention to me swimming towards him.

The current is what plays a big factor in chumming. If there is lots of current there really is no point (unless you are doing drift dives).

If you chum on reefs generally you WILL see sharks, and it is true that the sharks will become accustomed to this. Spearfisher=Food. We usually dont hit the same areas more than a couple times a month so I havnt noticed too much of a problem.

We definately dont bother chumming in areas known to be frequented by Tigers, or hammerheads. They can get a little intimidating underwater. Smaller reef sharks are more of a neusance than a threat.