Hi All

Well its time to fess up what your secret bait is.

Many many years ago when I was around 8 years old. We used to do Xmas Holidays at Dunedin. Staying with Nana and Grandad. Every day was spent on the Dunedin Wharf Fishing. We were given 9 pence to buy a crayfish for lunch or a pie. And 6 pence to buy our bait. So it was sixpence worth of cats meat from the bucher.

And on that we caught, Leather Jackets, Dogfish, the odd crayfish, but most of all Trevally. When things got boring we would go under the wharf and spare Octopus. And of course being young and silly we never thought of using the crayfish or occy for bait. Cats meat did it for us, so cats meat we stayed with.

Well I have been experimenting this year, and thought right lets try the cat meat idea out. But now I have a few bucks up my sleeve. Lets go a little upmarket.

Well the results were actually amazing.

"Snapper" just love Fillet Steak marinated in soy sauce. And the soy sauce seems to deter the crabs.

"Tope" Unbelievable. Turn there noses up at Fillet Steak. But " Rump Steak " really does the trick

"Gurnard" Tripe does the trick. Hard to find good tripe though.

"sharks" A Big Mac put in a bait sock and heaps of bait cotton.

"Lemons" Fussy Buggars they are. But a KFC Leg does the trick. Tried an unbattered leg, but nothing. The Colonels Secrect Spices are just magic with lemons.

"John Dory" Took me a while there to find something to whet their appetites. But finally got onto it. Chicken Tenders. They look like little fish and waggle in the current or waves.

" Sting Rays" If you want them. A whole Lambs Kidney. And yep. Lots of bait cotten.

"Moki" Fussy buggars too. But a piece of Pork Hock does the trick on them.

"Kahawai" my olds mates from Papamoa. Well Venison soaked in Sesame Oil is like magic.

My conclusions are that fish, like us have varied tastes. Why now when I go to the Supermarket you should see my trolly. On the way home I drop into the Shell Station to get my tea. Southern Baits Prime Pillies. 1st grade of course.

So why feed fish, fish. Experiment like I have and just watch them fishy critters attack that bait.

I could you tell you the prime bait for paddle crabs, but that one I am going to keep secret. Sorry about that fellow fishers. But some secrets have to remain with me.

Tights lines and attract those gourmet fish. Feed them well and they are yours. On the beach and flapping. But very content.

Cheers Trev aka Hardy