Sea Fishing Baits - How Often Do You Change?

Changing sea fishing baits regularly helps to keep a fresh scent trail going and, hopefully, attract more fish to your area. The general rule among shore anglers is to change baits every 15-20-minutes, but it all depends on a number of factors.

Shore Fishing

Bait-robbing peeler crabs can strip baits exceptionally quickly, as can shrimps. Small fish, like pin whiting, can also be a nuisance. It is advisable to leave your first cast in the water for at least 20 minutes and, if your sea fishing hooks come back bare, reduce the time by five minutes each cast. If the hooks are coming back untouched, then increase the time. The main thing to remember is that bait can become washed out and useless. Use fresh bait and change it regularly.

Baiting Your Hook

What you need to remember is that fish are attracted to the scent, so you need to be aware of how long you are leaving the bait in the water. As highlighted, too long and the bait can become washed out. In contrast, if you change bait every five minutes because you are not getting any bites, that can be detrimental. The fact is that by changing bait that is perfectly good, all you are doing is removing your offering from the target area, thus eliminating any chance of a bite. You are also decreasing the possibility of getting a bite during the period the bait is not in the water. Bait does need refreshing, but sometimes you can overdo it.

Frozen Mackerel

Before you change bait, be patient, and use common sense. Bait must be fresh, appropriate, and generous. Think about how long the scent is lingering in the water.

Not every angler is in a position to collect their bait fresh, for example using a bait pump or crab trap, and the only worthwhile alternative is to find a top quality supplier. At Glasgow Angling Centre, we have a wide selection of frozen bait, live bait, artificial baits and preserved baits for sea fishing.  Pop in and see us today and we can advise you on the best baits for your chosen species and venue.

This article was brought to you in association with Sea Angler Magazine.