Live Bait Net

Harwoody · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:17 pm Post subject: Live Bait Net

I have a few questions regarding live bait nets,
I bought one last week and tried it out. I have never used one before. I stuffed the bait pocket with rag, half sand eel and mackerel scraps. and weighted the net down by clipping a few 3oz weights to the frame.

I trapped about 15 ling/rockling
2 crabs
1 prawn

What baits would you recommend to put into the pouch?
What is teh difference between ling and rockling?
What one would they be if the fish was no bigger than 15cm? (http://harwood-fishing.8k.com/cgi-bin/i/images/100_0682.jpg)

If you can think of anything else that I should know, can you let me know ASAP please !
Thanks!

vennies · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject:

Hi Harwoody, your picture is a rockling and that is what you have probably been catching. A Ling is a totaly different fish that is best described as long, lean cod. More info here... http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/pages/ling.html

I've never caught one but they catch alot on the war wrecks in the channel. I don't know much about rockling, we dont get many over here on the Isle of Wight, not on the north coast anyway. But I think there are a few different species including bearded rockling.

As for the bait trap, the baits you mention sound good. I got one a couple of months ago. I've only used it once in the river. I used a chopped up mackerel and caught about 10 hard back shore crabs, a blenny and a prawn. I've heard that tinned cat food is deadly in these traps for prawns and peeler crabs. Wrasse love small hard back crabs and try and keep the prawns alive for big bass. September is the best time for prawns especially if you get a full moon and spring tide, we usually use hand nets. But saying all that anything that stinks will usually give results in the bait trap!.....Tight Lines

crackoff · Member Joined: Dec 07, 2006 Posts: 66 Location: West Wight

Hi
Ive used these traps for a couple of years. Any left over bait such as squid or mackerel head etc seem to work well. Like Vennies said anything that smells. I put them out at lowtide amongst rocks at Totland on a springtide, leave them overnight then go back early morning at low tide again. Mainly I have caught Prawns(very tasty) hardbacks, spider crabs, dogfish and a few rockling. Great fun because you never know what may come up

mawdesley · Member Joined: Jul 15, 2008 Posts: 6

I bought one last year and have also had fun with it.
I have had success in most places, lowering down a sea wall or pier is usually good. I have never felt confident enough to leave over night. Any bait generally works but it makes sense to use fishy bits.
A tip I was given, that seems to work is that prawns tend not like pushing the end open to get in. To get more prawns, excellent as bait and as a starter, thread some sort of ring through the smaller end of the funnel. I used a couple of plastic cable ties. You may need to add an extra line across to support it.

If this is does not make sense let me know and I can post a photo.