Tackle Tactics Surfcasting Message Board

Tackle Tactics Surfcasting Message Board
[ Tackle Tactics Surfcasting Message Board ]

pilchards

Posted by exhorder <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=exhorder' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 5/3/2013, 2:27 pm

is there any way to stop pilchards from being so soft and mushy when they thaw out

Re: pilchards

Posted by racepics <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=racepics' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 5/3/2013, 3:02 pm, in reply to "pilchards"

I find that pilchards thawed more than once go soft really fast. Basically refreezing them once they have been thawed makes them burley..

Same goes with Skipjack. Once its been thawed its buggered. The flesh goes brown and nothing will eat it.

With the Pilchards just take as many as you think you are going to need and leave the rest in the freezer. With skipjack saw it in half if you think you wont be using it all.

http://www.paniasurfcasting.org
http://www.surfcaster.co.nz

Re: pilchards

Posted by exhorder <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=exhorder' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 5/3/2013, 4:49 pm, in reply to "Re: pilchards"

these were thawed once geuss they would of been in the freezer for awhile at the shop [fco] I heard if you salt them for 24 hours they toughen up abit dont no if thats true or not

Re: pilchards

Posted by Carl <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Carl' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 5/3/2013, 9:07 pm, in reply to "Re: pilchards"

When you leave to go fishing try wrapping them up in newspaper and keep them cold in the chillybin to thaw out as slowly as possible. As they thaw the paper absorbs the water which is usually responisble for the mushiness.
I'll usually take a few out at time while fishing and they're nice and firm. Sometimes they're still close to frozen when I've gotten home so they go back in the freezer.

Also I like to check the quality of the pillies before buying. Pillies caked in ice have usually been sitting around for too long, another thing to look for is pillies with broken skin and yellow looking flesh, these tend to be mushy and the blood loses it's colour.

Fishing in windy Welly.

Re: pilchards

Posted by Rex HB <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Rex+HB' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 5/3/2013, 10:24 pm, in reply to "Re: pilchards"

Carl's onto it. Prevention is the best way really. Youve got to keep them as cold as possible and if you can out of the sun when your out. I keep mine in a chilly bin with one or two ice packs and take a few out at a time to partially thaw before going on the hook. If your lucky you can keep them cold enough they stay fairly hard can go back in the freezer until next time. Once there mushy I'd say theyve had it.

Re: pilchards

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 5/3/2013, 10:43 pm, in reply to "Re: pilchards"

Red cod dont care if they are mushy.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: pilchards

Posted by paulcs <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=paulcs' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 6/3/2013, 8:50 am, in reply to "Re: pilchards"

Just bought a vacuum packing machine for about $80, now with my bait all I do is split it up into several packs, and vacuum pack them, chuck them in the freezer and use them as I need them. I always use bait cotton on pillies, my technique involves rapping them in cotton prior to putting them on the hook, I find they are a lot more durable this way.

Re: pilchards

Posted by exhorder <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=exhorder' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 6/3/2013, 12:30 pm, in reply to "Re: pilchards"

thanks heaps guys

Re: pilchards

Posted by Phill <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Phill' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 6/3/2013, 5:54 pm, in reply to "Re: pilchards"
Tackle Tactics

I lightly salt my pillies when they are soft , sometimes they are soft out of the packet. Plenty of GBE helps with the casting ,stops that berley trail of dissintergreating pilly.
I also put my bait into sealed plastic containers so they don't end up floating around in the bottom of the chilly bin.

Re: pilchards

Posted by exhorder <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=exhorder' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/3/2013, 10:39 am, in reply to "pilchards"

got some mussles from super market last night steamed them open and bound them up into sausages with bait elastic so will give them a go on the weekend as well

Re: pilchards

Posted by Phill <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Phill' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/3/2013, 2:32 pm, in reply to "Re: pilchards"
Tackle Tactics

stuff the fish eat the mussels

Re: pilchards

Posted by PussKing <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=PussKing' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/3/2013, 7:56 pm, in reply to "Re: pilchards"

Mussels are best as they come (not steamed) gives more smell off from the juices.

Re: pilchards

Posted by Chad <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Chad' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 8/3/2013, 8:13 am, in reply to "Re: pilchards"

Yeah he is right, the juices that come from a fresh mussel are what draw a fish. When you steam them, they do firm up, but lose allot of the goodness.

It will be interesting to see how the steamed ones go, im sure they will stlll work for you, but fresh is best.

Wairoa
Hawkesbay

Take Nothing For Granted

« Back to index

[ Tackle Tactics Surfcasting Message Board ]