Sand Balling

Around the state of Florida, anglers both inshore and offshore employ widely diverse chumming techniques in the hopes of attracting inquisitive predators. And although game fish can be captured without the aide of chum, anglers targeting tasty bottom fish in the vicinity of reefs and wrecks can greatly increase their odds of connecting with effective chumming techniques. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Whether you call it sand balling or chum balling, this highly effective technique was revolutionized across the Florida Keys and provides a perfect means of hiding your offering within a tennis ball sized concoction of chum, fish oil and sand.. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Perfected as a tactic for fooling line-shy yellowtail snapper, anglers throughout Gulf and Atlantic states know sand balling works wonders on a variety of snapper and grouper. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Sand balling brings reefs to life. When black grouper are on the hunt juvenile snapper need to be on high alert. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

When concocting a sand ball mixture you should start with a box of double ground menhaden chum. Place your chum in a 5-gallon bucket and start mixing in sand. Although beach sand is free and will do the trick, most professionals use masonry sand because it binds together better and is more effective at clouding the water. At this point you can mix in some oatmeal and menhaden oil. If your mixture is too thick you can add saltwater to dilute it, while additional sand will help firm a wet mixture. The goal is to have a paste-like consistency that enables you to form small handfuls that stick together. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Sand balling is an extremely effective technique for presenting baits deeper in the water column but you can also disperse the mixture freely. With a smoke screen of chum falling to the bottom game fish won't be as wary. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

It's important to take a few pulls of line off the reel before you carefully place your sand ball in the water. You want to avoid tossing your sand ball in the water as the impact on the surface could prematurely break the ball apart. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Encountered in many regions of Florida, the most consistent yellowtail fishing takes place along the pristine reefs of the Keys. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Even shallow patch reefs can hold quality fish and sand balling will draw curious predators from the dark holes and crevices within area reefs. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com