Chumming for Mackerel

We're talking here about Spanish Mackerel. A few pounds in size each. They are a very popular fish to eat, with many of the smaller ones caught to put in those cans you buy at the store. But the ones we're talking about catching are usually 2 to 5 miles out to sea, swim in schools, and are hanging around at about 150 to 200 feet deep. We don't catch them with lures. We use chum. Most deep sea fishermen are very aware of using chum, or chumming, as it is known. There are many methods of chumming, some using small fish, or parts of fish, and others using tiny shrimp or some such thing.  Basically, if you're throwing bait over the side of the boat to attract fish, you're chumming.
For this type of fishing, we are using tiny, fermented shrimp (yes, rotten) that have been hard frozen into large blocks. It is usually purplish or brown in color. When you get to your destination, chunks of this block are broken off into separate buckets for each fisherman. You have to stay busy because the chunks will start to melt. Then line set-up;
We used 100 pound test line (you'll know why later). The first thing on the line is a small plastic basket, usually about 3 to 5 inches long. Below this basket you attach a fly string.  A fly string is a length of line (already made)(comes in a kit) that has a number of individual flys (like fly fishing) atached to it.  Each one is on its own line (about 6 inches to 1 foot long) that attach to the main line. It is hung upside down (or looks like it), so that the flys dangle and move in the water. Almost always, the flys used match the color of the chum. At the end of the line farther down is the weight.  It is important that everyone use the same size weight. Remember that you are going to fish down to to 150 to 200 feet. If some weights are smaller, the current, or drift, will move them more, and then you have tangled lines, and it's a real mess. All the lines should drift the same. Break off or cut off a chunk of chum that will fit into the basket, and put it in.  You're ready! All the fishermen should be spaced out accordingly to prevent tangles.
Drop your line over the side, and let it sink to the bottom.  When you "feel" it hit bottom, turn the crank a few turns to just barely clear the bottom.  As the boat moves up and down, the weight will "thump" on the bottom, which a fish can hear from a long way off. It is another attractant. Your chum will start to melt in the warmer water and scatter around in a cloud.  The mackerel will come in to eat the chum, and since your flys look just the same as the chum, boom, they're caught! Even if you feel one on the line, just wait, because the objective is to catch more than one at a time (that's why you need 100 pound test line). Because they swim in schools, it is very common to catch 2, 3 or even 4 and 5 at a time.  But it's a tough go getting them up and in the boat. With their combined weight and jerking in different directions, it really seems like you may have a 200 or 300 pound fish on the line.
But, while we're talking about Spanish Mackerel, I will also mention it's bigger cousin, the King Mackerel.  It is much bigger and meaner than it's smaller cousin. It will not go after the chum, but it will go after the Spanish Mackerel that are kicking about on your line. When they are caught and jerking around, they look like a wounded fish, and that attracts the cousin.  It was fairly common for us to be reeling in our catch, when, all of a sudden, the line would jerk very hard. When we got the line up, one of the Spanish Mckerel was bitten in two, or all that was left was the head. We knew right away that the Kings were down there.
It may be a little surprising to you that the King Mackerel would attack and eat it's smaller cousins. It did not surprise me.  There are a lot of relatives that just simply do not get along with each other! Ouch!