Clams
There are several types of clam found in the Western Region, but only
one is recognised as a true sea angling bait.
The Common Gaper
The Common Gaper which is oval shaped and dark grey to black in colour
is found in muddy creeks and estuaries. They can be detected by searching
for a keyhole shaped depression in the mud. The hole is created by a long
siphon with which the gaper filters small particles from the water.
Clams can be dug up with a fork and when the syphon is removed, it provides
a very good boat angling bait for a number of species. Used in combination
with lugworm or ragworm, it is also a useful shore anglers' bait for bass
and flatfish. Most other species of clam are found in deep water and do
not come into the sea angler's range until a gale throws them onto the
shore. The Icelandic Clam, for instance, is a large round, purple-flanked
shellfish which is a superb bass bait but it occurs so seldom on the foreshore
that it cannot be regarded as important.
Mussels
They can be collected from most rocky shorelines but, because of their
soft flesh, they are used almost solely by boat anglers who don't have
to make a long cast. If it is necessary to cast mussel, they should be
tied to the hook with shirring elastic (elasticised thread). This is occasionally
effective when fishing at short range from the shore.
Razor Fish
An excellent boat and shore bait which is very common on the shores
of Clew Bay and Clifden Bay. They can only be obtained, however, at low
water of Spring tide strips.
Razor fish live in a burrow up to 3 feet deep, usually in coarse sand,
and are difficult to dig because the slightest movement on the sand above
sends them spurting to the bottom of the hole. The most effective way
of collecting them is to use a long 1/2" diameter steel bar which
has been flattened and shaped like an arrowhead at one end. When a razor
fish burrow has been located, the steel rod should be rammed down the
hole and twisted into the razor's shell. The rod is then withdrawn, hopefully
with fish attached.
They can be used as bait for most Summer species, but can also be very
effective for winter cod.
Sandeel
It can be fairly common along the seashore in the Western Region, often
in places such as Old Head, Carrowmore Strand and Clifden. It is an excellent
bait for estuary sea trout and bass and for pollack, mackerel, turbot,
dogfish and ray. Sandeel can be collected by the Cornish system known
as "Vingelling" in the wet sand with an old bill hook. The hook
should be pulled in a sweep through the top six inches of the sand and
when a sandeel is located, it will wriggle out to the surface. Speed and
dexterity are then called for to grab the fish and place it in a bucket.
They will stay alive in a bucket of cool, aerated sea water for several
days.
The Common Shore or Green Crab
It moults at least once a year, usually prior to mating. This generally
takes place in May or June, although moulting crab have been found as
late as October in some places. Crabs can be collected along sheltered
shores, particularly where there is an abundance of serrated wrack which
provides good cover for them. Not all shore crabs are suitable as bait
and only "peelers" or "softies" are used.
A "peeler" crab is one which is in the process of shedding
its shell and is generally regarded as the prime crab bait. To tell a
"peeler" from an ordinary hard-backed crab, one should remove
the last leg segment. If the segment comes away and there is white flesh
underneath, the crab is unsuitable and can be returned to its hiding place.
If, however, the segment comes away easily, revealing the newly-formed,
soft red flesh underneath, the carapace and under shell can be peeled
off and you then have an excellent bait.
Crabs which have already shed their shell but have not yet hardened
( a process which takes about a week ) are known as "softies".
They are rubbery to the touch and cannot nip as the claws have not hardened
enough to do any damage. In most conditions, a soft crab will be almost
effective as a "peeler", although the "scent " will
not be as strong.
Crab can be used in almost any sea angling situation, from shore fishing,
where they are effective for virtually all species as well as for inshore
boat fishing for ray, dogfish and flatfish, to deep sea fishing for cod.
Hermit Crab can be collected in rock pools or in a pre-baited drop-net
from a pier wall. Hermit are a good bait for cod, ray and flatfish from
boats, but are very difficult to cast from the shore due to the softness
of the tail.
Shellfish
Shellfish are a very valuable bait, particularly when fishing for specific
species or for fish with soft mouths, for example: haddock
Cockles can be gathered in quantity on many parts of the coastline and
are extremely useful for shore and inshore fishing, especially when plaice,
dabs and flounder are the target. They are a very good bait for larger
fish when used in a "cocktail" with lugworm. Cod and whiting
find this combination very attractive.
Whelks
The Small Black Shore Whelk: It has little use but the much larger dog
whelk is a tough bait for cod, whiting, pouting, coalfish, wrasse and
dogfish. Dog whelk is a deep water shellfish seldom seen on the shoreline,
except after an onshore gale when often they are washed ashore in great
numbers. As with hermit crab, a pre-baited drop-net hung for a few hours
at high tide from the end of a pier wall will usually yield enough dog
whelk for a day's sport.
Marine Worms
Lugworm Abundant in estuaries and on most sheltered beaches throughout
the area, lugworm are recognised by the spaghetti-like spiral of sand
which they leave on the foreshore at low tide. Trench digging for an hour
or so with a garden fork will normally produce enough worms for a day's
fishing. In the Western Region, lugworm have traditionally been a shore
angler's bait normally associated with fishing for flounder, wrasse, dabs
etc. But they are also very effective in attracting codling and whiting
while inshore boat fishing.
Ragworm
Red and King Ragworm are absent from the west coast of Ireland and anglers
wishing to use these baits must be prepared to carry a supply of them.
The ragworm can be an excellent bait while shore or boat fishing for flatfish,
whiting, pouting and many other species.
Fish Baits
All forms of oily fish are useful to both the boat and shore angler,
particularly when seeking large predators such as shark, tope, monkfish
and skate.
Mackerel
The most important of all sea angling bait is mackerel. It can be used
to catch almost every species of fish. It can be used in 'strip' form
for turbot, megrim, pollack, coalfish or gurnard. It is used in 'last'
form (the rough tail section) for ray, bullhuss, spurdog, etc. A half
or whole mackerel is used for tope, shark and skate. Mackerel can be bought
in most fish shops in season or can be caught while spinning from harbour
walls or rocky outcrops. While boat fishing, a string of brightly coloured
mackerel feathers is employed to catch mackerel in numbers. In recent
years, there has been a marked decline in inshore stocks of mackerel but
generally an hour's searching can still provide ample supplies.
Herring
A very important bait for many species of fish, they are seldom caught
on rod and line. Herring can usually be bought fresh in most fishmongers
or supermarkets, freezes better than mackerel and does not go soft after
thawing. It works well in combination with other bait, particularly red
ragworm.
Note: The above is just a glimpse into the use of some
of the most effective bait in the region. It is by no means a definitive
list as many weird and wonderful baits have produced fish in the past
and are sure to do so in the future. In theory, any bait is worth trying,
so, if it looks good, give it a go - you have nothing to lose.
|
