Mussels for bait.

Posted by The druid on 27/6/2012, 4:00 pm
122.58.170.X

Could someone please tell me the relative merits of steaming open mussels for bait or opening them with a knife. I thought steaming might toughen them up a bit. Or perhaps mussels should be opened on the beach and put straight on the hook?

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by jed on 27/6/2012, 4:29 pm, in reply to "Mussels for bait."
116.251.142.X

im just a rookie but id say if your getting them from the beach your fishing at it would be better just cracking them open on the beach and putting em on the hook.wrap em up with heaps of cotten

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by Neil on 27/6/2012, 4:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."
121.73.143.X

Get a big bag of fresh ones . Start a small fire while fishing and you can steam some to eat and leave the uncooked for bait Disclaimer .Hamills staff member.

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by AndyG on 27/6/2012, 5:40 pm, in reply to "Mussels for bait."

I always just open them on the beach and use a lot of bait cotton. Steaming them would lose a bit of the freshness and juices wouldn't it? I generally only use them when targeting moki, but most fish will take a well presented mussel.

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by The druid on 27/6/2012, 5:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."
122.58.170.X

Thanks lads, I think I'm getting the idea now. Opening on the beach makes sense.

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by racepics on 27/6/2012, 6:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."
203.97.201.X

Disclaimer: Ive never caught anything on Mussels: Ok, when using mussels for bait I found it easier to bind the mussel into a finger sized 'sausage' with bait cotton before putting it on the hook. It just made it easier (in my opinion) to do this at home prior to hitting the beach. Also I was able to freeze the unused ones and have them ready to go for the next outing. http://www.paniasurfcasting.org http://www.surfcaster.co.nz

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by jaypeegee on 27/6/2012, 7:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."
203.97.235.X

open em at the beach. Light gauge cotton into a sausage Wrap sausage onto hooks Cast away and then wrap up the next couple while you wait Red Cod seem to leave them alone TICs love em Snaps love em Fingers stink a bit different to pillie stink 3 Bucks pays for a nights fishing Will be picking some up in about 60 mins to do the above. Havent frozen them to store, But have considered it.

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by The druid on 27/6/2012, 7:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."
122.58.170.X

Like your thinking JPG. General consensus is to open at the beach and use. I think, any I bring back unopened I'll steam, make into traces and soak in oil.

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by Snappa HB on 27/6/2012, 8:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."
118.67.192.X

Tua Tuas instead far more user friendly, not as sloppy and catch almost anything on them.

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by GaryK on 27/6/2012, 9:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."
222.154.44.X

Mussels are a great moki bait. Shell them at home and freeze. Freeze the shells too for burley when targetting moki. I agree that most fish take them but only use them myself when after moki and trevally.(Oh and parore).

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by ThomasW on 30/6/2012, 7:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."

Basically agree with everything already written. When tieing mussel up with bait elastic (Gary's Bait Elastic is perfect for this job). I like to place the mussel flesh between two fingers then wrap the bait around my fingers, once it looks like the mussel is getting held together I pull one finger free then continue the wrapping. Then I remove my last finger and put on a few more wraps of elastic. Then I thread the fine gauge hook in, a few more wraps of elastic to hold it on tight before casting it out to catch a big Moki (Southern Blue Snapper). I also find mussel a good bait to use over the colder months because dogfish seem to avoid it. It also seem to catch fewer red cod which must be a good thing. Although never caught a Gurnard on it so that might be a bad thing... One negative is that Wrasse seem to love it, so if fishing near rocks can end up catching them all day. I never precook my mussel, I feel fresh mussels have more juices which must help in attracting fish to your bait.

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by ThomasW on 30/6/2012, 7:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."

Oops double post Below is what the Wraase do when you use mussel baits. .--------------- . . . <>< J <>< <>< <>< <><

Re: Mussels for bait.

Posted by ThomasW on 30/6/2012, 7:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Mussels for bait."

How did it post three times... these even a script which stops multiple posting