| After location bait and it's correct | | | | killing undersized fish for bait.SANDEELS AND |
| presentation is the most important factor | | | | LANCE FISHSandeels can be used live by |
| governing success or failure. No matter how | | | | hooking threw the upper lip or threw the base |
| expensive your tackle is, if the fish won't | | | | of the eye socket using a fine wire hook. |
| bite you go home empty. Freshwater fish can | | | | There is a space here so little damage is |
| go several months without eating, most marine | | | | done. Dead sandeels are hooked by sliding |
| fish can not, indeed many marine fish will | | | | them mouth first on to the hook and turning |
| die if not fed several times a day( a big | | | | so the hook comes out the anal area. The |
| problem for aquarists rather than anglers). | | | | quality of frozen sandeels varies from bait |
| Fish will eat a wide range of prey as cutting | | | | shop to bait shop with those which turn mushy |
| open the stomach will show but these are not | | | | best avoided in future. Sandeels are best |
| always the best baits to use. Remember your | | | | fished with a light rig with a long snood |
| bait is not the only piece of food in the | | | | that moves around giving the impression that |
| water, the secret of angling is to make the | | | | the sandeel is struggling in the surf. It is |
| fish ignore everything else and take your | | | | common to find cod and whiting stuffed full |
| bait instead.Fish are not stupid, they want | | | | of sandeels. Live Sandeels cast poorly, |
| as much food as possible for as little effort | | | | ripping lose if any real power is applied. |
| as possible. This is known as optimal | | | | Live sandeels are caught in seine nets or |
| foraging theory, and although a contraversial | | | | found buried in the sand along the low |
| subject amongst ethologists it's well worth | | | | watermark. Keep cold and well aerated in a |
| remembering. Imagine a bass spotting a | | | | non metal container.Lance fish are bought |
| sandeel some distance away, first he | | | | frozen from pet shops. Make sure you get the |
| calculates the energy he'll use to catch it | | | | larger size (about 2 inches) and make a good |
| then balances it against the energy gained by | | | | alternative to sandeels when a smaller bait |
| eating it, only if the pay off is greater | | | | is needed. Unlike sandeels they may be fed to |
| than the effort will he bother. No fish is | | | | pet fish at home. If the fishing tackle shop |
| going to swim very far off course to pick up | | | | is closed or out of bait pet shops can be a |
| a puny little worm on your hook, imagine | | | | good alternativeWHITEBAITBags of these little |
| driving to the out of town supermarket just | | | | silver fish can be bought cheaply from |
| for one can of beans. This is the first rule | | | | fishmongers. Defrost enough for your trip |
| DO NOT SKIMP WITH BAIT. Be generous, make it | | | | because they dont refreeze well.OTHER SMALL |
| worth the fishes while to stop chasing that | | | | FISHRock pools are full of small fish which |
| shoal and pick up your static large portion.A | | | | at first though could be used as bait. |
| fish can be said to show a preference for a | | | | However unless you know what is what it is |
| food if it seeks out that item despite other | | | | best to leave them alone. Some may be rare or |
| food items being more available. This is the | | | | endangered species, others will may have |
| second rule STICK WITH THE WELL KNOWN BAITS | | | | defensive mechanisms to deter predators and |
| (Yes we've all heard stories of some guy | | | | all will have cryptic colouration for |
| sticking a cream bun on a hook for a laugh | | | | camouflage. Undersized fish should be |
| and landing 30 lb cod). If one bait does not | | | | returned alive to the water and not rehooked |
| work try another as different species prefer | | | | as live bait unless there is a very good |
| different food and the colour of the water | | | | chance it will be taken. Estuaries in late |
| can play a big part. If you have an idea for | | | | summer are often jammed packed with very |
| a new bait try it out when the fishings good, | | | | small flounder (often making fishing |
| if everybody else is catching bag fulls and | | | | impossible) and although we've all found them |
| your frozen fishfingers are too then your on | | | | inside cod and whiting should be left alone. |
| to something.Rule number three is MATCH THE | | | | Many aquarists buy or breed goldfish and |
| SIZE OF YOUR BAIT TO THE SIZE OF THE FISH YOU | | | | livebearers (guppies, mollies etc) to feed to |
| EXPECT TO CATCH. Cod have large mouths and | | | | pet fish but these are too expensive for |
| appetites to match, flatties have little | | | | fishing.SquidSquid is readily available from |
| mouths and cannot fit a size 6/0 hook laden | | | | fishmongers, supermarkets and of course your |
| with a mussel and lug cocktail in their gobs. | | | | local bait shop. It can be used whole or cut |
| Match the size of the hook with the size of | | | | in to strips for the smaller species. Strips |
| the bait, a small hook buried deep inside a | | | | can seem a tad thin so cutting twice the |
| bait is well protected and the fish will not | | | | length and folding in half is a good idea. |
| be impaled. If you are fishing for the | | | | Squid is a tough bait which lasts a long time |
| smaller species it is better to use a 2-4 | | | | in the water and withstands hard casting |
| hook paternoster and spread the bait out | | | | making it suitable for tipping off other |
| rather than lump it on one hook. A pennel rig | | | | baits, lug and squid cocktails being an all |
| is two hooks in the same bait and increases | | | | time cod classic. It is a decent winter bait |
| the chance of contact when large baits are | | | | particularly for whiting but in my opinion |
| used.The final rule is PRESENT IT PROPERLY . | | | | nothing special. I have never caught a fish |
| A lugworm suspended 3 ft above the seabed | | | | on squid in the summer months, even when |
| will set alarm bells ringing that somethings | | | | anglers around me have been pulling them out |
| not quite right.Worm BaitsWorm baits fall | | | | like no tomorrow on other baits. Squid is not |
| into two groups Ragworms and lugworms. All | | | | a food source readily available to fish in |
| are treat in much the same way, stick the | | | | the UK so they are probably a little |
| hook in the tail end and thread up the line | | | | reluctant to try it although crabs seem to be |
| till you reach the desired size. A pennel rig | | | | more attracted to squid than any other bait. |
| should be used when fishing multiple | | | | As a note of interest I have tried feeding |
| worms.RAGWORMSLots of species available all | | | | both marine and freshwater fish in my |
| make good bait. The big one is the king rag | | | | aquariums with squid from the petshop and |
| Nereis virens reaching 40 cm in length. | | | | have found that while the marine fish largely |
| Paddle, rock and cat worms are similar in | | | | ignore it freshwater fish go crazy for it. |
| appearance and should not be ignored. Many | | | | Should I ever take up course fishing I will |
| species have jaws (nippers), these can give a | | | | certainly be giving squid a try. Those little |
| very mild nip. Can be dug up or found under | | | | plastic squids (muppets) are popular with |
| rocks. Cultured ragworm is readily available | | | | local boat anglers but are not suitable for |
| all year round from most bait suppliers. Do | | | | shore fishing.Peeler CrabThe outer shell |
| not freeze ragworms.LUGWORMSTwo species are | | | | (carapace) of the common shore crab Carcinus |
| used as bait The common lugworm Arenicola | | | | maenas needs to be cast if the crab is to |
| marina which lives in sheltered sandy beaches | | | | grow. During this stage the crab becomes |
| in a U shaped burrow with a cast and hole at | | | | known to anglers as peeler crab and to cod as |
| each end. And Black lug Arenicola defodiens | | | | dinner. I have been told that fish in |
| (also called runnydown) is much larger and | | | | aquariums seem to know when the carpace is |
| does not form a hole next to the cast. There | | | | due to come off and hang around the rock |
| can be a lot of local names for lugworms | | | | impatiently, it is rumoured the crab always |
| runnydown, yellowtails, blowlug etc. To dig | | | | leaves it's shelter after casting and seeks |
| up the common lugworm dig a trench and work | | | | new shelter.Look for crabs in areas with lots |
| along it filling it in as you go. This | | | | of rock and weed, children seem to have an |
| produces the greatest number of worms for the | | | | uncanny knack of knowing which rocks to look |
| least effort and prevents the beach looking | | | | under. Look for medium sized crabs, large |
| like the surface of the moon. Much is said | | | | ones moult less frequently and small |
| baout the environmental impact of bait | | | | specimens should be left till another day. |
| digging by anti-angling idiots. However it | | | | Crabs that are ready to peel will have a |
| must be remembered that a single rough sea | | | | hairline crack near the tail end, be dull in |
| can strip an entire beach of lugworms and all | | | | colour with a soapy feel. A discarded shell |
| its sub-sand organisms which I think puts my | | | | nearby often indicates a freshly peeled crab |
| dozen worms in perspective. Do not dig around | | | | is nearby. Those not quite ready can be |
| boat moorings for obvious reasons. A while | | | | hurried along by storing in seaweed (change |
| back someone got into bother for bait digging | | | | regularly) in a cool spot. Never keep soft |
| in Duridge Bay (around the time vast | | | | crabs in the same container as peelers. Leave |
| quantities of sand were being removed for | | | | females with eggs alone. If you intend to lay |
| commercial purposes). Black lug have to be | | | | a bit pipe to catch crabs put it in an |
| dug out individually, always handle with wet | | | | difficult to reach place out of site to |
| hands to prevent them busting.Black lug can | | | | prevent your crabs from been stolen.To use |
| be frozen easily.Pop them and squeeze the | | | | remove the legs (use to make cocktails), bung |
| guts out.Lie them straight on a couple of | | | | on a hook and tie with thread (elasticated |
| layers of newspaper.Cover with a generous | | | | bait thread is best but ordinary will do). |
| layer of salt for about 3 hoursShake off the | | | | Large specimens can be cut into smaller |
| salt and repeat steps 2 and 3.Shake off the | | | | pieces. To freeze crab remove the lungs |
| salt and lie the worms one inch apart on a | | | | first, I like to freeze them on the hook and |
| length of newspaperRoll up the paper and | | | | pack individually, store in a thermos flask |
| freeze.Frozen black lug is ok when you fancy | | | | when fishing.Artificial baitArtifical bait is |
| a nights fishing and you've missed the bait | | | | a waste of money. Ignore claims that fish |
| shop but it can't beat fresh bait.Mussels and | | | | can't tell the difference or they taste just |
| RazorfishMussels can be bought alive from | | | | like the real thing (mmm I can't believe it's |
| fishmongers or frozen from bait shops and pet | | | | not lugworm, yeah right). The only artificial |
| shops. Most housewives know to reject mussels | | | | bait worth it place in my tackle box are |
| that don't clamp shut when tapped but anglers | | | | lures, I obtain all my Lures on eBay. |
| need not worry about this as mussels which | | | | Spinning is best done when you know fish are |
| are "off" often make the best bait. Live | | | | about and where deep water is close in e.g. |
| mussels can be parted from there shells by | | | | steep beaches, rocks, piers etc. I like to |
| severing the anterior and posterior adductor | | | | spin when I prematurely run out of bait. |
| muscles and scooping out, or leaving to die | | | | Children who do not yet developed the virtue |
| in a bucket (helps bring out the flavour). | | | | of patience and winge to check the bait every |
| Mussels are not on the menu normally as they | | | | three seconds can be kept quiet by |
| are protected by a hard shell, those which | | | | spinning.It has been said a million times |
| are eaten have normally died and have been | | | | that most lure are designed to catch anglers |
| washed out. Tie mussels on to the hook with | | | | not fish. One summer I walked along Whitby |
| thread, taking care not to pull to tight. I | | | | pier which was packed with people fishing for |
| like to freeze them on the hook and keep them | | | | mackerel. The mackerel shoals could easily be |
| wrapped separately until needed, this allows | | | | seen yet only a few anglers were landing |
| them to be cast further, they will defrost | | | | them. Many lures on sale are designed for the |
| quickly once they hit the water. Adding | | | | American market. Americans are blessed with |
| pilchard oil to the mussel before freezing | | | | shores full of huge predatory fish, we are |
| increases its effectiveness. Although the | | | | not. These lures may mimick the baitfish |
| edible mussel Mytilus edulis is the one | | | | living in the USA quite well but can be of |
| normally used as bait the horse mussels | | | | little use in the UK. Also remember that the |
| Modiolus modiolus can also be used. Other | | | | bass swimming around the UK coastline are a |
| native species are too small to bother with. | | | | different species from those found in the |
| Mussels bought frozen pet shops are very | | | | American lakes. When visiting websites |
| small and make good lugworm and mussel | | | | selling lures, claims such as "Best lure in |
| cocktails. Mussel beds are also good places | | | | the world" should be taken with a pinch of |
| to fish.Razorfish Ensis siliqua, also called | | | | salt as these claims are impossible to prove. |
| pod razor and spouter fish are rarely for | | | | Remember the description was probably written |
| sale so have to be gather by hand. Walk along | | | | by a marketing executive who has never held a |
| the low tide mark without shoes on very | | | | rod in his life. Instead use your own |
| softly and look for keyhole shaped holes in | | | | instinct and past experience before parting |
| the sand. Pour salt down the hole and grab | | | | with your cash.Be sensible with size. The |
| tightly when it pops out. The smaller Sword | | | | lure should look like potential prey. I have |
| razor is also suitable. Treat as mussels for | | | | caught very small fish on lures that were |
| bait.Many species of bivalves can be found | | | | bigger than they were and believe this may be |
| buried in the sand e.g. gapers, scallops, | | | | due to the lure triggering an attack response |
| tellins, cockles, oysters, etc and are worth | | | | rather than feeding one.Use tackle capable of |
| trying for bait where they are abundant.Do | | | | casting a light weight. a drilled bullet or a |
| not bother with limpetsFish as bait | | | | barrel lead 2ft up the line can be used to |
| | | | gain extra weight.When fishing from a high |
| Big fish eat little fish, but which ones are | | | | platform point the rod tip downwards to give |
| best for bait. Whilst many fish will eat | | | | more natural movement to the lure.A sink and |
| anything that fits in their mouths not all | | | | draw method works best. Cast out let it sink |
| are suitable for bait. When there is a lot of | | | | reel in and stop, let it sink and reel |
| undersize fish about nicking the bait the use | | | | in....Red rubber sandeels are best during the |
| of small baitfish can help target out the | | | | day, Black at night with a full moon.The best |
| bigger specimensHERRING AND MACKERELGrouped | | | | colour for other types varies according to |
| here together because they are treat in much | | | | weather conditions and visability, if one |
| the same way. Use whole fish for shark and | | | | colour isn't working switch to another.Keep |
| conger, Conger are a rare catch in north east | | | | an eye on other anglers spinning to see which |
| england, although the rocks off Craster and | | | | colours are producing on the day.Always |
| Dunstanburgh have been know to produce. | | | | incorporate a swivel to prevent line |
| Removing the backbone so the two flanks are | | | | twist.Expect to lose lures. Yes I know they |
| separate and can flap freely is a good way to | | | | are expensive but so is bait.In bright |
| present this bait. Shark fishing is unheard | | | | conditions fish head to weedbeds. Work the |
| of from the beaches around here. More | | | | lure around weedbeds not through |
| commonly these fish are cut into bite size | | | | them.Seagulls picking off small fish often |
| strips before use. They give off a lot of | | | | indicates the fish have been driven to the |
| scent and are unbeatable for coalies in the | | | | surface by larger fish.Reel in the correct |
| summer. Thin strips fished with a float will | | | | speed. Too fast the fish will not attempt to |
| produce bags full of mackerel from almost any | | | | chase, too slow the lure may not move the way |
| pier in the summer. When the shoals are in it | | | | it was designed to.Lines of debris on the |
| is worth taken a few for dinner and bait but | | | | surface are good places to try, particularly |
| don't go crazy, dozens of dead fish next to | | | | for mackerel.On the tidal run spin so the |
| you impresses no one and you risk a earful | | | | lure moves in the direction of the |
| from more conservation minded anglers. | | | | current.Dead sandeels move unnaturally |
| Mackerel are also caught using feathers or | | | | through the water when spun.Do not stop |
| any small shiny lure on light tackle. | | | | working the lure until it is out of the |
| Although mackerel and herring can be bought | | | | water.When Fishing over rough ground a float |
| frozen from bait shops they often turn to a | | | | can be used to prevent loss.Painting your |
| mush when defrosted. Fish mongers are a | | | | lead sinker to look like a small fish can |
| better source but buy ready filleted as you | | | | attract fish to your bait.Spinning is more |
| will get more for your money and make sure | | | | energetic than bait fishing and your muscles |
| they have not been smoked.PILCHARDS, | | | | will quickly become fatiqued reducing your |
| SARDINESNo not the tinned ones, I've tried | | | | casting distance. Don't take too much tackle |
| them they don't work. These can be bought | | | | with you, rest every ten casts or so for a |
| frozen in many supermarkets and fish mongers. | | | | few minutes or alternate between bait and |
| Like mackerel and herring they are an oily | | | | spinning duty with a friend. Drinking a |
| fish giving off plently of scent. Being | | | | glucose based sports drink can help. |
| smaller they can be used whole when a | | | | Powerlifters often take creatine monohydrate |
| mackeral would be too large or cut into | | | | as an energy source for explosive movements. |
| strips. Warning, it is a good idea to keep | | | | I have tried this and found no difference to |
| the bag marked "pilchards" with you when | | | | distance cast or time for fatique to set in. |
| fishing in case someone accuses you of | | | | |