I have been holding an interesting 'off the board' message exchange about bait. Now we are into the last period of autumn, soon to be followed by colder winter months, what would be your favoured choice?
I mentioned a few months ago the bait being offered by local tackle shops was plainly disgraceful, with most on offer displaying more freezer burn that a penguin's chuff. This encouraged me to turn to a very popular bait of fifty years ago, fresh trevally, and this brought immediate success.
During the summer months the quality of anchovies took a dramatic turn for the better, and they became the catalyst of my catch rate. For many months the quality of bonito has been bloody awful, a once beautifully silver flanked fish, now turned brown with age coupled with poor storage.
Anyway, back to my question, as we now enter the colder months, what will you be carrying with confidence of keeping up your catch rate? And how will crab bait fit into the greater scheme of things?
Re: Winter Baits.
Posted by Rex HB on 15/4/2013, 10:03 pm, in reply to "Winter Baits."
Once winter kicks in there will be mainly red cod and kahawai. Pilchards and bonito work for them. Crab and prawn if I feel like chasing lemons.
Re: Winter Baits.
Posted by racepics on 16/4/2013, 5:05 am, in reply to "Re: Winter Baits."
Dead right Rex - small paddle crabs from Ocean Beach tend to work for the Lemons out there. If I get a chance to learn how to throw my cast-net I might be able to catch fresh herring etc in the river mouths. But really the winter species you mention are not picky about what they eat
Posted by James HB on 16/4/2013, 6:56 am, in reply to "Re: Winter Baits."
Same as Rex with the addition of cray tail and mussels for moki and trevs. Racepics I can show you how to throw it if you need a hand. Been chucking one since I was a wee fulla No excuses, just get out there!!
Re: Winter Baits.
Posted by racepics on 16/4/2013, 12:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Winter Baits."
Posted by GaryK on 16/4/2013, 10:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Winter Baits."
Baits for winter for me are craytails, pilchards and skipjack tuna.
Excellent quality baits are available in Napier at Action Outdoors and Firmans Marine. Probably at others too. I dont know what you have to complain about Hangler. Is it just Hastings shops that are letting you down? Or are you not checking all that is available. Crabs are usually available at H.B. Seafoods.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Re: Winter Baits.
Posted by Hangler on 17/4/2013, 9:29 am, in reply to "Re: Winter Baits."
What part of the sentence 'a few months ago' didn't you understand, Gary? At the time several members agreed bait quality was extremely poor. The person I usually deal with told me what suppliers were offering was so bad they refused to stock it.
This thread was started to enable members to share their bait knowledge with others. I thought, obviously wrongly, that was the reason for this message board's existence.
Anyway, many thanks for sharing your knowledge, can you please let us know where to pick up the reject cray tails? I am confident many members will be interested.
Re: Winter Baits.
Posted by Rex HB on 17/4/2013, 10:10 am, in reply to "Re: Winter Baits."
I think youll find thats a closely guarded secret Hangler. I have a feeling those that have them mainly have access to boats or "know" people. I found one on the beach once but thats closest I'll ever get to getting that "bait gold".
Re: Winter Baits.
Posted by jaypeegee on 17/4/2013, 11:07 am, in reply to "Re: Winter Baits."
I try and take at least two bait types when I fish. Trev and salted Mackerel are the usual suspects or if i have pilchard then I will certainly take those. Often drop by the supermarket and grab mussels also. Havent used squid for a long time. Probably wont again either.Bonito is sometimes used also. My feeling is that Mackerel without too much dark flesh is good. Gets Trev Tic and Snappers attention. Have pulled in Gurnard also from this but less frequently. Trev the same. Pillies good - but painful to use if using 2/0 circle hooks - although rolled and elasticed fillets can be useful.Mussels are good but get a little hard to elastic when fingers are icy in deep winter - Mussel is a pretty good all rounder and Red Cod seem to ignore it too (Bonus)
Re: Winter Baits.
Posted by GaryK on 19/4/2013, 7:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Winter Baits."
Cray tails are available just rear of the legs.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Re: Winter Baits.
Posted by NP HB on 21/4/2013, 7:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Winter Baits."
hahaha. The shops ant the only place to find bait, i have found better quality bait at fuel stations at times, you just need to have a good look around. Another option for catching a few crabs is a line of small hooks baited with a bit of meat and cast just over the wash, i have caught a few this way.
on 15/4/2013, 8:19 pm