Mussels and Razorfish
Mussels can be bought alive from fishmongers or frozen from bait shops and pet shops. Most housewives know to reject mussels that don't clamp shut when tapped but anglers need not worry about this as mussels which are "off" often make the best bait. Live mussels can be parted from there shells by severing the anterior and posterior adductor muscles and scooping out, or leaving to die in a bucket (helps bring out the flavour). Mussels are not on the menu normally as they are protected by a hard shell, those which are eaten have normally died and have been washed out. Tie mussels on to the hook with thread, taking care not to pull to tight. I like to freeze them on the hook and keep them wrapped separately until needed, this allows them to be cast further, they will defrost quickly once they hit the water. Adding pilchard oil to the mussel before freezing increases its effectiveness. Although the edible mussel Mytilus edulis is the one normally used as bait the horse mussels Modiolus modiolus can also be used. Other native species are too small to bother with. Mussels bought frozen pet shops are very small and make good lugworm and mussel cocktails. Mussel beds are also good places to fish.
Razorfish Ensis siliqua, also called pod razor and spouter fish are rarely for sale so have to be gather by hand. Walk along the low tide mark without shoes on very softly and look for keyhole shaped holes in the sand. Pour salt down the hole and grab tightly when it pops out. The smaller Sword razor is also suitable. Treat as mussels for bait.
Many species of bivalves can be found buried in the sand e.g. gapers, scallops, tellins, cockles, oysters, etc and are worth trying for bait where they are abundant.
Do not bother with limpets
Fish as bait
Big fish eat little fish, but which ones are best for bait. Whilst many fish will eat anything that fits in their mouths not all are suitable for bait. When there is a lot of undersize fish about nicking the bait the use of small baitfish can help target out the bigger specimens
HERRING AND MACKEREL
Grouped here together because they are treat in much the same way. Use whole fish for shark and conger, Conger are a rare catch in north east england, although the rocks off Craster and Dunstanburgh have been know to produce. Removing the backbone so the two flanks are separate and can flap freely is a good way to present this bait. Shark fishing is unheard of from the beaches around here. More commonly these fish are cut into bite size strips before use. They give off a lot of scent and are unbeatable for coalies in the summer. Thin strips fished with a float will produce bags full of mackerel from almost any pier in the summer. When the shoals are in it is worth taken a few for dinner and bait but don't go crazy, dozens of dead fish next to you impresses no one and you risk a earful from more conservation minded anglers. Mackerel are also caught using feathers or any small shiny lure on light tackle. Although mackerel and herring can be bought frozen from bait shops they often turn to a mush when defrosted. Fish mongers are a better source but buy ready filleted as you will get more for your money and make sure they have not been smoked.
PILCHARDS, SARDINES
No not the tinned ones, I've tried them they don't work. These can be bought frozen in many supermarkets and fish mongers. Like mackerel and herring they are an oily fish giving off plently of scent. Being smaller they can be used whole when a mackeral would be too large or cut into strips. Warning, it is a good idea to keep the bag marked "pilchards" with you when fishing in case someone accuses you of killing undersized fish for bait.
SANDEELS AND LANCE FISH
Sandeels can be used live by hooking threw the upper lip or threw the base of the eye socket using a fine wire hook. There is a space here so little damage is done. Dead sandeels are hooked by sliding them mouth first on to the hook and turning so the hook comes out the anal area. The quality of frozen sandeels varies from bait shop to bait shop with those which turn mushy best avoided in future. Sandeels are best fished with a light rig with a long snood that moves around giving the impression that the sandeel is struggling in the surf. It is common to find cod and whiting stuffed full of sandeels. Live Sandeels cast poorly, ripping lose if any real power is applied. Live sandeels are caught in seine nets or found buried in the sand along the low watermark. Keep cold and well aerated in a non metal container.
Lance fish are bought frozen from pet shops. Make sure you get the larger size (about 2 inches) and make a good alternative to sandeels when a smaller bait is needed. Unlike sandeels they may be fed to pet fish at home. If the fishing tackle shop is closed or out of bait pet shops can be a good alternative
WHITEBAIT
Bags of these little silver fish can be bought cheaply from fishmongers. Defrost enough for your trip because they dont refreeze well.
OTHER SMALL FISH
Rock pools are full of small fish which at first though could be used as bait. However unless you know what is what it is best to leave them alone. Some may be rare or endangered species, others will may have defensive mechanisms to deter predators and all will have cryptic colouration for camouflage. Undersized fish should be returned alive to the water and not rehooked as live bait unless there is a very good chance it will be taken. Estuaries in late summer are often jammed packed with very small flounder (often making fishing impossible) and although we've all found them inside cod and whiting should be left alone. Many aquarists buy or breed goldfish and livebearers (guppies, mollies etc) to feed to pet fish but these are too expensive for fishing.
Squid
Squid is readily available from fishmongers, supermarkets and of course your local bait shop. It can be used whole or cut in to strips for the smaller species. Strips can seem a tad thin so cutting twice the length and folding in half is a good idea. Squid is a tough bait which lasts a long time in the water and withstands hard casting making it suitable for tipping off other baits, lug and squid cocktails being an all time cod classic. It is a decent winter bait particularly for whiting but in my opinion nothing special. I have never caught a fish on squid in the summer months, even when anglers around me have been pulling them out like no tomorrow on other baits. Squid is not a food source readily available to fish in the UK so they are probably a little reluctant to try it although crabs seem to be more attracted to squid than any other bait. As a note of interest I have tried feeding both marine and freshwater fish in my aquariums with squid from the petshop and have found that while the marine fish largely ignore it freshwater fish go crazy for it. Should I ever take up course fishing I will certainly be giving squid a try. Those little plastic squids (muppets) are popular with local boat anglers but are not suitable for shore fishing.
Peeler Crab
The outer shell (carapace) of the common shore crab Carcinus maenas needs to be cast if the crab is to grow. During this stage the crab becomes known to anglers as peeler crab and to cod as dinner. I have been told that fish in aquariums seem to know when the carpace is due to come off and hang around the rock impatiently, it is rumoured the crab always leaves it's shelter after casting and seeks new shelter.
Look for crabs in areas with lots of rock and weed, children seem to have an uncanny knack of knowing which rocks to look under. Look for medium sized crabs, large ones moult less frequently and small specimens should be left till another day. Crabs that are ready to peel will have a hairline crack near the tail end, be dull in colour with a soapy feel. A discarded shell nearby often indicates a freshly peeled crab is nearby. Those not quite ready can be hurried along by storing in seaweed (change regularly) in a cool spot. Never keep soft crabs in the same container as peelers. Leave females with eggs alone. If you intend to lay a bit pipe to catch crabs put it in an difficult to reach place out of site to prevent your crabs from been stolen.
To use remove the legs (use to make cocktails), bung on a hook and tie with thread (elasticated bait thread is best but ordinary will do). Large specimens can be cut into smaller pieces. To freeze crab remove the lungs first, I like to freeze them on the hook and pack individually, store in a thermos flask when fishing.
