Sea Fishing Bait - Keeping worm alive ??

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:30 am

what is the best way to keep worm alive ? ive heard of freezing it but does this really work and does it effect the catch rate ?

Guest

It depends on how long you want to keep the bait fresh.

If you are talking about whilst on a trip, I use a bait bucket for live sandeels and sprats. With lug and rag worm, I try to change the paper when I get back from the bait shop as it gets very wet otherwise.

Also when your out on a trip, try to keep worm out of the wind and rain as this kills them and also it makes them really watery.

Regarding freezing, after fishing in Orford in December, I had loads of worms left so when I got in, I placed them straight into the freezer. That created a big frozen lump of mush! I fished with it on my local beach and had quite a good night catching small whiting and small bass.

Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:32 am

I keep my lugworm in damp sand contained in a shallow bucket.
On the rare occassion I buy them from a tackle shop I get rid of the newspaper straight away, wash the worms in some clean sea-water and then lay them out in layers in the damp sand, six to eight worms per layer each layer covered with an inch or so of sand. During cold weather I leave the bucket outside, in warm weather in a fridge.
The worms tend to survive really well whilst in the sand and when you come to use them their bodies are coated in sand which makes them easier to handle and put on the hook.

Tight Lines.

Guest

bones96, you don't say what sort of worms but with the exception of Black Lug, they don't freeze well.

All worms (particularly ragworm), sandeels and peeler crabs can however, be kept very well in bait tanks and they are not nearly so difficult (or costly) to set up and run as some would have you believe. The basis of the tanks is a small domestic fridge, which nowadays you can get free from the local council waste site as they can't give them away quick enough, an aquarium air pump and a few plastic tubs.

Much too big a subject for here but if you want to know more PM me.

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:03 pm

Another thing yopu can do if ya want mate is to salt ya lug down