 |
 Tsunami Pro Holographic Swim Bait 6 NATURAL brown calamari Squid NEW $7.95 Time Remaining: 24d 14h 3m Buy It Now for only: $7.95 |
 Kslabo Air Mark AIRPULL 90S Live Gell Natural Swim Bait Pink Back NIP $15.30 Time Remaining: 14d 8h 40m Buy It Now for only: $15.30 |
 doyle hodgin shrimpostor 4 natural shrimp fishing baits lures qty 10 $4.00 Time Remaining: 8d 2h 34m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 |
 Soft Bait Mullet Trolling Lure 10 8 Mullet Lures Natural Color with Stripe $42.95 Time Remaining: 17d 21h 17m Buy It Now for only: $42.95 |
 hurricane 2 pack pyro shrimp natural color fishing lures baits trout redfish $5.00 Time Remaining: 15d 51m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 Kslabo Air Mark AIRPULL 90S Live Gell Natural Swim Bait Red Head NIP $15.30 Time Remaining: 14d 8h 43m Buy It Now for only: $15.30 |
 Kslabo Air Mark AIRPULL 90S Live Gell Natural Swim Bait Chart Back NIP $15.30 Time Remaining: 14d 8h 42m Buy It Now for only: $15.30 |
 Soft Bait Mullet Trolling Lure 10 6 Mullet Lures Natural Color with Stripe $34.95 Time Remaining: 17d 21h 17m Buy It Now for only: $34.95 |
 Soft Bait Mullet Trolling Lure 10 6 Mullet Lures Natural Color No Stripe $34.95 Time Remaining: 17d 21h 17m Buy It Now for only: $34.95 |
 Soft Bait Mullet Trolling Lure 10 8 Mullet Lures Natural Color No Stripe $42.95 Time Remaining: 17d 21h 17m Buy It Now for only: $42.95 |
 Sebile Koolie Minnow 118BRL 3 4 oz Wide Rolling Bait Natural Dk Blue Back $15.50 Time Remaining: 19d 2h 47m Buy It Now for only: $15.50 |
Bait Natural
Artificial Bait? Fish don't shy away from it, so neither should we anglers
Now artificial lures are one thing. I know they work.
But artificial bait? "Surely not" I said to the chap in the tackle shop. "A waste of time and money."
"You should try it" he said, "It's good stuff."
"Really?" I said, meaning - 'You've got to be joking'
"It's good stuff" he said again,"You should try it."Swayed by his compelling argument, I bought a packet. Actually it was more of a re-sealable sachet, containing three small imitation squid in a strange gravy-like liquid.
It was destined to stay in my tackle box for some time. In fact it was almost a year later, and on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean that I looked at it again.
We were anchored in Prickly Bay, Grenada in the West Indies. Jigging had proved unproductive, I'd no natural bait and was under some pressure from Mary to get something for the barbecue.
It was then that I remembered the sachet of artificial squid bait.
With dusk almost upon us, I changed the jig for a paternoster rig, and put one of the strange-smelling squid on the bottom hook - with more than a little scepticism. It certainly looked like the real thing, but ...
Within seconds of it arriving on the seabed, some 10m (33 feet) below, the light spinning rod was almost jerked from my hands. No tentative knocks first - just 'bang' and away. I didn't have to strike, it hooked itself.
'It' turned out to be a Dog Snapper (so called because of its two canine-like front teeth) of around 5lbs. Yummee!
I put the rod away - interest turning instead to the barbecue on Alacazam's sternrail.
That defining event happened some years ago. I've since caught many good fish on artificial bait, although I have to say that it's much more effective if you apply some movement to it, rather than leaving it stationary on the seabed to fend for itself. I always have a good supply aboard our sailboat 'Alacazam'.
And there's several good reasons why you might want to do the same ...
- Providing you keep the sachet sealed, the artificial bait remains 'fresh' (if that's the right word), and doesn't dry out.
- If it has been allowed to dry out, or the flavour has leached out in use, the bait can be rejuvenated by dousing it in more 'gravy'.
- It doesn't need refrigeration. Particularly good news this, as it leaves more room in the fridge for beers.
- No more bait digging in glutinous mud, leaving more time for catching fish.
"Artificial Bait? You should try it - It's good stuff!".
About the Author
The author, Dick McClary is a lifelong angler, ocean sailor and author of books and magazine articles on sea angling and offshore sailing. Dick shares his knowledge of sea fishing and messing about in boats at Go Saltwater Fishing.
I have some tiny (they are about an inch and a half long) goldfish. What natural foods can I feed them?
They were a couple of cents each, and my previous batch of bait (that's what these are) goldfish lived off of bread for 5 years. Then they committed suicide by jumping out of their tank. But what are some good natural food (such as oranges or lettuce) can I feed them, and how should I prepare them?
Carrots, Peas, Lettuce are some good vegies you can feed your goldfish. Wash them properly, chop them up and feed.... They are omnivores and eat a wide range of food. If they're that small I would feed them tiny flakes or brine shrimp.
How to Series 1 - Rigging natural baits