Bait Preparation and Live Baits for Fishing

Rock Worm

Preparing bait for fishing may seem a bit cumbersome, but it is much better than using ready-made bait for a good catch. The important thing is how we use which bait. In sea fishing, usually mussels, worms, white bait, and chicken meat are used. In this article, I will explain how to use regional baits. 

Mussel

They generally live in the mud layer under rocky areas, found in the Marmara and Black Sea. They are generally used for catching mullet, picarel, horse mackerel, etc., and used in the same way. One type is the lugworm, which is also found in the same seas. It is the second most used bait after rock worm and lugworm. It is used for catching whiting, horse mackerel, picarel, etc., and can be collected from rocky areas along the coast. I generally used to dive in the summer months to get large mussels. Since the edge of large mussels looks like rock worms, they work well for catching picarel. If salted and dried after cleaning, it is more effective, especially for whiting, mussels are used as the primary bait. Sardine, one of the most effective baits for mullet, is the number one bait for mullet and turbot when used as a wrap, but its usage for turbot is different, which I will explain in another topic. When cut into diamond shapes and made into a bottom rig with a single hook and lead, it is also used for catching red mullet and in some cases for catching bluefish. It is bait for catching lüfer, prepared by cutting off the head and making leaf-shaped pieces. When used as live bait, it is threaded whole, but on a weighted bottom rig, it is used in a steal rig by cutting it into pieces. Whole garfish are used for catching large garfish, and after cutting them into pieces, they are used on a weighted garfish rig. Especially the silver part is used as bait, and it also works for catching sprat and small tuna with a feathered rig. Prawns are generally found in areas where boats are moored or in the weedy sections of rocky areas. After being caught with a net, they are used whole. It is the main bait for catching picarel and horse mackerel. Besides this, the same catches can be made with shrimp. Shrimp are caught by threading pieces of cut shrimp onto the hook.