I used to hook and line fish for mullet to they are so much fun to catch. We would chum them with laying mesh and rolled oats.. One bait I used for mullet was Small pieces of mango..I wonder if tilapia would eat that? I knew one guy who used doy cakes to chum up tilapia..Tilapia are really interesting..they are mouth brooders..meaning they will hold their eggs and fry in their mouths when they feel danger nearby. I have had them spit eggs or fry out all over the deck of my boat many times. Tilapia will eat small minnows and aquatic bugs along with algae.