Chum

Chum is a word with several meanings in English. It can refer to a close friend or companion; it is also used in fishing to describe a mixture of bait materials used to attract fish, and it is the common name for a species of Pacific salmon known as chum salmon.

As a noun meaning friend, chum denotes familiarity and camaraderie. It is more common in British English and informal American speech, used in phrases such as “my chum” or “old chum.”

In angling, chumming refers to releasing a ground bait into the water to draw fish into a feeding area. A typical chum mix may include chopped fish parts, blood, oil, and other attractants, either dispersed from a bag or formed into chum pellets. The practice aims to concentrate fish and improve catching efficiency; it can be regulated or restricted in some waters to protect ecosystems.

Chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, is a species of Pacific salmon native to the North Pacific and adjacent river systems. It migrates to freshwater to spawn and supports commercial and recreational fisheries in many regions. The species is valued for its size and flesh and is a common target of harvest and sport fishing.