question on Worms

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swifty

New member
at low tide on the side of some rocks you get these worm colonies that look like coral but made from sand and if you break it open you can find some worms inside.  What type of worms are these and can they be used as bait and if so what fish species could I target.

I live in the blouberg area so would be fishing around bigbay to melkbos

Cheers

Grant
 
M

Mike Smith

Sealiner
swifty wrote:
at low tide on the side of some rocks you get these worm colonies that look like coral but made from sand and if you break it open you can find some worms inside.  What type of worms are these and can they be used as bait and if so what fish species could I target.

I live in the blouberg area so would be fishing around bigbay to melkbos

Cheers

Grant
Click to expand...

You've already answered your question in the first line. It is coral worm. good bait for Galjoen, Stumpnose, Kolstert, Hotties and Steenbras! Careful though, they have powerful pincers that can deliver a lekker bite!:::S
 
M

Mike Smith

Sealiner
Yes you are allowed to take them but not with an implement longer than 10cm's I think. Please check your recreational brochure on bag limits which I think is 5 or 10 and the restrictions on tool size used.

There are quite a few people opposed to this method of bait collecting as it can be destructive to the coral structure and detrimental to the ecosystem but if you work carefully, you can limit the damage.
 
M

Mike Smith

Sealiner
No worries bro! It's not your PC, it's the network or server that is overloaded. Just hit the back button when it stops responding and you will see your reply when you refresh or re-visit the page.

Moet nettie F5 druk nie!^^.. nê DV?
 
W

whalerider

Sealiner
Mike i tend to disagree,coral worms are usually found under black mussells, the worm swifty is refering to is called pudding worm by the locals,not sure what the correct name for it is,yes it is deadly for galjoen but it needs to be used immediately as it becomes all mushy and pap when stored !

my 2c worth,keep the change !!::S:fbash
 
M

Mike Smith

Sealiner
Thanks for the correction Whaley! And here I thought it was coral worm! Apologies to the thread owner for the misleading info!^^..
 
B

Bunkerking2

New member
whalerider wrote:
Mike i tend to disagree,coral worms are usually found under black mussells, the worm swifty is refering to is called pudding worm by the locals,not sure what the correct name for it is,yes it is deadly for galjoen but it needs to be used immediately as it becomes all mushy and pap when stored !

my 2c worth,keep the change !!::S:fbash
Click to expand...
To my knowledge, Mike is correct about these being coral worms and the worms that you are referring to that you find under the black mussels are mussel worms. Pudding worms, you normally get at low tide under the shale and grit in the shallow rock pools. 
 
M

Mike Smith

Sealiner
Bunkerking2 wrote:
whalerider wrote:
Mike i tend to disagree,coral worms are usually found under black mussells, the worm swifty is refering to is called pudding worm by the locals,not sure what the correct name for it is,yes it is deadly for galjoen but it needs to be used immediately as it becomes all mushy and pap when stored !

my 2c worth,keep the change !!::S:fbash
Click to expand...
To my knowledge, Mike is correct about these being coral worms and the worms that you are referring to that you find under the black mussels are mussel worms. Pudding worms, you normally get at low tide under the shale and grit in the shallow rock pools. 
Click to expand...


::teas::::teas::::teas::::pop:
 
S

swifty

New member
thanks guys

the main thing is that I can use them for bait.  We used to just call them coral worms, good to see the name stuck, the method of getting them has changed somewhat as we used to just bash the coral open with a rock (30 years ago), dont worry wont do that now.  Going to try this weekend for some a few other critters for bait.

Keep well

Grant
 
M

Mike Smith

Sealiner
swifty wrote:
thanks guys

the main thing is that I can use them for bait.  We used to just call them coral worms, good to see the name stuck, the method of getting them has changed somewhat as we used to just bash the coral open with a rock (30 years ago), dont worry wont do that now.  Going to try this weekend for some a few other critters for bait.

Keep well

Grant
Click to expand...


:welcomesea:
 
F

FeedingFrenzy

New member
They are coral worms (or Cape reef-worm as they more correctly known) and they don't have armed jaws but rather feathery bristles on the head that seals their tunnel when they withdraw.

They OK bait - not really worth the destruction though.  You hook them thru the hard head and string a bunch on - if there are pickers around then they munch all the soft bits off and you left with unappealing heads on hook.
 
F

FeedingFrenzy

New member
Too true!  you are correct - they along with mussel worm may no longer be collected.

We used them as laaities for klipvis bait!

I suppose the reason for the restriction is to prevent damage to ecologically important communities (I remember that there were always herds of crabs, small molluscs and spider-things in the nests as well) same reason for mussel worm - destruction of mussel beds.

Thanks for the wake up!

Cheers
 
S

swifty

New member
OK thats off my bait list then.  Will just try and catch some harders/mullet with chicken livers then.:ifishinmy son will enjoy that
 
B

boepens

Sealiner
I know the worms that make the coral heads as shipworm. Deadly bait especially if the fish r feeding properly. Cotton a few to ur hook. Musselworm feed on them as well as live in the mussels. Also very good bait.

Since when can't u use worm as bait ? Okes still use worm flatout here.

The shipworm corals can actually take over a set of rocks and kill off the mussels !
 
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