essexman
Regular
Joined: Oct 16, 2005
Posts: 313
Location: clacton on sea essex
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 Posted:
Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:08 am |
 
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Black lug are individuals and cannot be trenched like blow lug. You have a choice of collection methods, either with a spade or by a bait pump. The spade needs to be a special draining spade with a narrow cutting edge and wider top. These are often sold under the name of "Peat Spades".
To dig black with a spade means walking the low tide line until you spot the black cast. Place the spade about 6" in front of the cast and take out a spade of sand about 8" deep. Now take another cut directly behind the cast an d as deep as you can. The worm is usually in this second cut. Some diggers prefer to make three cuts starting further in front of the cast with a shallow cut, then another just in front and the last deep one just behind the cast to reveal the worm.
Many diggers have now forsaken the spade in preference of the bait pump. This requires a similar techniques to extract the worm. Put the pump base over the cast and take a core of sand only about 6" deep out. Back down the hole and go as deep as you can with the second pump. As you lift the pump free of the hole pump out the core flat on the sand and the worm should be visible. Occasionally, and it's worth doing anyway, break open the core to reveal any hidden worms.
Black do not always conform to this vertical burrow habit and in some areas, especially those where sub surface stone and pebble exists, will burrow at a slight angle causing some worms to be chopped off. |
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