GET INTO SHORE FISHING
Follow our simple guide through your first steps in shore fishing. We’ll help you to overcome any obstacles you might encounter along the way. This month we switch the focus to bait…
HOW IMPORTANT IS FRESH BAIT?
It really doesn’t matter how good your tackle is, if your bait is a rancid, smelly mess, it’s fair to say you won’t be attracting many fish to your hook.
One thing you will notice on your forthcoming fishing trips is that those anglers who have incredibly good bait are, more often than not, those who continually catch fish. And it’s a good bet that they put the extra effort into collecting their own.
If your time is limited, then perhaps you don’t have the opportunity to head to the beach to collect bait. The only alternatives are to place a regular order with your local tackle dealer, or attempt to secure a supply from a local professional worm digger.
Either way, once you have your bait, it still needs to be cared for to keep it in pristine and fresh condition.
FROZEN BAITS
Many shore anglers use frozen baits, the most popular being black lug, sandeels, mackerel, peeler crabs, squid, Bluey and shellfish such as mussels. Having your freezer stocked with many varieties of bait also means if the fish suddenly turn up at a local venue, you will always have a supply of bait to get in on the action. These fish may only hang around for a few days, and you risk missing the opportunity to enjoy a productive session, especially if you’re relying on the tackle shop opening.
Transport your bait to your chosen mark in a large cool bag with an added ice pack, or in a wide-mouthed flask. It will not only keep and maintain the quality of your bait, but also it helps to keep worms and peeler crabs in good order too. You can return any unused baits that are still frozen back to the freezer. However, never return any frozen baits to the freezer that have thawed. These will have almost certainly lost their important scent, and more than likely be useless.
Baits that don’t freeze particularly well are blow lug and ragworms. Wrap these in dry newspaper and store them in the bottom of a bait fridge.
CARING FOR YOUR BAIT
Once you have collected your bait, it still needs to be cared for, unless you are intending to use it immediately.
Blow lug generally comes already wrapped in newspaper. Remove them and wrap in a few sheets of fresh paper at home, and try not to overcrowd them. Packets of around 50 blow lug (depending on size) will generally be fine.
Ragworms can be cared for rather like blow lug, but if you intend to keep them a little longer, store them in a few millimetres of seawater in a cat litter tray and placed in the fridge. This will keep them lively and healthy.
Gutted black lug often comes wrapped in rolls of 20 (a score. These will stay fresh for at least a week in a fridge and can sometimes be even better for some species when they are just beginning to go off.
Yellowtail lug, on the other hand, will need to be kept in seawater to keep them alive and maintain their freshness.
If you intend to keep yellowtails longer, always have a few bottles of fresh seawater in the same bait fridge (this keeps the water temperature the same) to enable you to change it if it starts to become cloudy – not forgetting to remove any worms that have died.
SPECIALIST BAITS
There are some baits that will definitely give you an edge when shore fishing, but it’s highly unlikely you will obtain them in any tackle shop.
Both white and harbour ragworms are certainly regarded as top alternatives, especially among match anglers. You will need to collect these yourself and, if cared for properly, they can lead to some amazing results.
The smaller white rag are commonly referred to as ‘whites’, while the larger worms are called ‘snakes’. Look for venues that have mussel beds and tube worms, where spring low tides give you a far better chance to dig a supply.
Harbour rag are known as ‘maddies’ or ‘wrigglers’. These resemble ragworms, but are incredibly small. They are best used when head-hooked in bunches, or alone or when tipping-off a lug bait. They’re usually found in most estuaries at low tide, and it can be a messy business digging them – but it’s certainly worth the effort.
PEELER CRABS
One of the most highly prized baits around is a peeler crab. This is a shore crab, and to enable it to grow, it must shed its shell. When this happens, they become extremely vulnerable to feeding fish.
To mount them on a hook, all the outer shell and the legs need to be removed to reveal the new, softer membrane underneath. Then cut out the lungs with a pair of sharp scissors.
Use whole, or cut in half, then secure to the hook with thin elastic cotton. The pungent juices are like a magnet to many species.
■ NEXT MONTH: Find out how to select the best venues for your next shore session.