There is no need for a chum bag. There is plenty of bait to had with out it. If you want to catch sardines the 16 at 210 is a great spot. Or even rite out of the harbor is a good place. If you want rock bass or bone fish try around the corner in front of mannys. Have not really seen any small squid to catch for bait. If you go to the deeper reefs you can catch giant humbolt squid. We generaly get our squid at lee lees market.
Three Boys is where I always buy my shrimp on my way out of town. I guess now I'll have to run by there when I get into town as well...
Speaking of shrimp- how do they work for Snapper in RP? I know it's expensive to use as bait, but a lot of Gulf Coast guys swear by using shrimp tails for Red Snapper off the Texas coast...
I sometimes carry a chum bag on my boat. Once when I was out with two Mexican friends, I ask one to throw the chum bag with fish entrails and rocks in it over the side. I forgot to tell them to tie it on the parachute cord that I had just for that purpose. So much for that chum bag.
I use a different trick if bait is finicky or scarce. I usually have a couple cans of catfood on the boat. I open a can and spoon a bit over the side in a few places. Any fishy flavor will do. It's pretty oily stuff and seems to draw the mackerel in close to the boat. Drop the sabikis and have at it.
I've never made squid in Rocky Point. I usually buy the nice white California candy squids at Lee-Lee before I head down. They work great. Only squid I've ever caught are the huge Humboldts when they are around. They also make a good bait. I've cut them up in big strips and caught both white and black seabass on them.
I like the cat food idea! Cans are a lot less messy than a big stinky block of goo in the ice chest....
You guys all seem to do well in RP on the dead squid- Boy, I've had trips to Catalina where live squid was the only way you were going to hook a WSB- they wouldn't even SNIFF dead bait...
I always pick up a couple cans of cat food before I head to Rocky Point. I'll put an opened can in a weighted mesh bag and use it just like any chum bag. I'll use it if I don't have any entrails left over from the day before. I don't waste freezer or cooler space with fish guts. Entrails are pretty odiferous by the next day. I don't knw which works better but cat food is about 50 cents a can and the cans aren't biodegradable.