Sardine as bait

sam28 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject: Sardine as bait

Hi all, my local cash and carry sell packs of frozen headless sardines. I was wondering if they would make good bait. They are oily fish just like mackies. Any suggestions? big grin

cuckool · Occasional Joined: Aug 28, 2008 Posts: 102

Ok if your fishing for cats lol big grin

manic_muppet · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:26 am Post subject:

Hi Sam, As fish eat fish, and just about anything else they can get their gums round, i would give it a try. Sardines are one of the best fish for oils, so might turn out to be a decent bait. I would try it while using your usual bait on another line and see how it goes. I go to an Indian supermarket and buy little fish at £1.50 for around 40, and had some success with them. But fishing being a very fickle sport, i would try them out a few times, just in case you happen to have a bad day, which is not uncommon this year.

sniggle · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

Hi sam, I think it depends on how long they have been frozen as i expect they are much the same as sprats. I like a plate of sprats and if i see fresh ones and i mean fresh , bright and clean caught yesterday i buy some for about £2 a kilo. Rolled in flour and a pinch of chilli or cayene and fried they are delicious but even i cant eat a whole kilo (137 sprats i counted them) so some end up in bait sized bags in the freezer. When defrosted and cooked a week later they are half as good as fresh ones, leave them in the freezer for another fortnight and they are not worth eating unless you`re starving and i think the fish feel the same if you use them for bait.
The only fish i have caught on frozen sprat are dabs which sometimes like a stinky bait and dogs which are always starving.
If the sardines are cheap and not too soft to use when defrosted they might be worth a try for whiting.

steve1963 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:49 am Post subject:

They are the same, as all the other baits, depends on whats biting.

It's a must to use bait elastic to keep it on the hook and best used close in,
tend to fly off in the cast otherwise.

I've had mackerel on them and a doggy. (only used once)

I think that fresh is best, got mine from the fresh fish counter at the supermarket, got about a 12 for less than a pound.

I will use them again, Steve

sam28 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the advice lads. big grin

chrisandboys · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:39 am Post subject:

I tried using fresh sardines for Pike fishing but they were really much too soft.

osean · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject:

Hi Sam,
I use these as bait & have had some success on them in clear water or using them as a cocktail. If you freeze them try & take them in the frozen state to the beach, wrap them in newspaper. If you can thread them frozen on a baiting needle & put them on the hook that way they will bend around the shank of the hook better & will not fragment, tie them on with elastic just the same, you will find that they will cast better & not fly off.
Will

sam28 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:09 pm Post subject:

Thank you once again to all of you, I will give them a try. big grin

waveneyone · Member Joined: Aug 04, 2008 Posts: 45 Location: Ipswich

When in Western Australia THE bait there is frozen pilchard or pillies as they call them. Mind you they call cans of beer tinnies and their aluminium boats tinnies as well so anything with a 'ies' is Aussie. You sit in your tinnie swigging tinnies. happy

Anyway they looked like sardines to me and most of the garages around the fishing areas would sell you a block frozen. They certainly worked for me and we ganged 3 size 4/0's together to hook them. Caught all sorts of fish free lining them over the reefs.

johnnyreno13 · Member Joined: Oct 13, 2008 Posts: 10

Keep us posted. If sardines work well, i will give them a bash. Keep them well sealed. Wouldent want any wild cats sniffing around you.lol