Firming bait

[JFE]

I have a problem with bait – sardine. I buy them frozen and when thawed out they go all soft, almost impossible to wrap down and then the ocean washes off what is on the hook.
Does anyone have some advice on how I can firm up the bait or rig it up so that it stays on?

 

[Upcoming Star]

Why dont you use it frozen.... Maybe you letting it thaw out for far too long? I know some guys salt the pilchards to keep it firm for longer

 

[Koper]

That's one of the reasons I started using Pike, stays firmer even when thawed and work just as gr8 (if not better) imho.

 

[fannie]

At one stage Roodeplaat dam had a huge overpopulation of canary curpers. So some of the more clever guys thought it was a waste to throw them in the drums around the dam. They took them home and the next time they took them down to the coast to use as bait. From what I was told it worked awesome. The fish basically had to swallow the canary since it's a firm little fish.

Just an idea for next time you hear of a fish overpopulation like that.

JFE, have you ever considered lure fishing ? I use bait very seldom and for the most part get the same as the guys with bait. Only it's a (imo) much nicer way to fish. If the shad run I can do 2 - 3 in the time a bait guy does one.

You have to learn a couple of tricks but it is a very nice way to fish. Fly fishing is just as much fun, since you fish with flies you catch a whole different range of fish. I fish for the sport so we throw them back. You can always eat the sarfdine you were going to take for bait ;-)

 

[Mouse]

Sometimes when you baiting up a sard the belly pops,I carry a little roll of sandwich rap ,which you trim just to firm up the belly not the whole sard,the smell still gets out but the peckers have a hell of a time getting to the belly

 

[JFE]

@ Fannie

That is why I am in this mess. I usually only fish on lures but try and widen my perspective. Where I am at in the Med the season is changing and the ocean is as flat as can be. Caught a nice little blacktail on Friday - about 35cm on the bottom on sard tail. Tried to rig up whole sard to see what will take on it but failed in every effort.

 

[fannie]

I guess once a lurie always a lurie.

If you use the right lure and method you can probably catch anything any one else does.

 

[Damon]

I've heard the best approach to try is to cut the sardine when frozen as if you are filleting it then roll it up and wrap some newspaper around it, leave in the freezer over night...this helps to dry out the moisture.

 

[Riaandl]

Something you might try, give the sardine a few cuts, from the back to the belly and then salt the sardine before freezing then. The only requirement is that the sardine must be fresh, no red eyes.