"Bringing the Fish to You"
August 15, 1999
What is up with some of you guys...you run here and you run there and you blow enough gas to go across the country to California in one trip. I say bring the fish to you...say it with me now Lord..."Bring the fish to you!" Stomp your feet and wave your hands in the air and say it with feeling...Hallelujah!
Where are the fish? Heck if I know! Alright, alright...your best connection just gave you some hot numbers for tuna and you are marking some good bait, but no tuna. You've been trolling here and trolling there...slowly going into a coma. Stop the darn boat and anchor up...put some good tunes on...you know, "Hot Tuna" or something that the fish will appreciate...and break out the chum.
DAVE'S SECRET ITALIAN RECIPE
Here is how to make the swirl...yum-yum! Start with 20 gallons of water. Add 10 lbs. of spearing, 8 lbs. of finely chopped butterfish (about one inch pieces will do). Your fish chunks should not be as large as the bait on your line. We want to tease the fish in, not stuff them. Now get a brick of frozen chum, which can be found in the freezer section of any local bait store, right next to the ice cream! Stir the swill until it gets that thick consistency. Throw in some chopped up squid if you have any...even old funky bunker will do fine. Now smell...if you don't cringe and your face doesn't turn inside out...it's not ready.
IMPORTANT TIPS
In your cooler you should have some fresh bait...I repeat...FRESH bait! Spearing and butterfish cut into some nice chunks. Be sure to have a light rod by you with five feet of 20 pound fluoro-carbon leader and a small #3 Gamakatsu hook and a pea shot sinker in case you see some mahi-mahi come into the slick.
HERE WE GO!
Toss in a cup of chum every 20 seconds or so. Get your slick going and relax...you're not going anywhere...this is going to take some time. If the fish are there, they will come. Have your rod set at different depths and keep an eye on your fish finder...when you see that you have visitors put your line down at the same depth. Free line some of your bait with your chum and pay attention! You may see boils way off the back of the boat in your slick. Don't stop your slick, if you do, the fish will follow it as it drifts away from your boat. Now throw in some fresh pieces, just enought to bring them home to Mama.
If St. Peter smiles on you, your rod will start screaming. Make sure at all times, that you keep the slick going. May the Chinese fire drill come upon you Jedi fisherman...and may the slick force be with you!