Big Cod Bait
- Thread starter berwick
- Start date
Cheers for the response lads. No mention of squid I notice, noted.
I appreciate like some have pointed out that there is a degree of luck involved but as others have said bait, conditions and tides are the 3 biggest factors in fishing. Bait being the only one we can control of course
Obviously location as well but me personally, I would rather be in the wrong place with the best bait than the best spot with some washed out rag I dug out the bottom of the freezer.
I have never used bluey before but just ordered some and will give it a shot.
Cheers
I appreciate like some have pointed out that there is a degree of luck involved but as others have said bait, conditions and tides are the 3 biggest factors in fishing. Bait being the only one we can control of course
Obviously location as well but me personally, I would rather be in the wrong place with the best bait than the best spot with some washed out rag I dug out the bottom of the freezer.
I have never used bluey before but just ordered some and will give it a shot.
Cheers
Deans
Well-known member
had a 14lb on squid-steetly
a 15lb cock clam-noses
one this season just under 10lb mackeral/cart mix
had 15 fish over 5lb this season already , all sorts of baits,
they tack out man,
fish baits good, but if your in a crowded comp its likely someone will have better bait and the fish gan for there's.
cart/ fresh crab, usually outfishes fish baits. (however some northern marks an exception)
but if your pleasure fishing, and not many other baits in the water, makeral sausage good as out for fish over 4lb. believe you me
am a big believer that the cod below 3lb tend to dislike makeral, better off with lug. am one for waiting for better stamp- wouldn't fish for anything else............ ......... just my opinion ................just my opinion.....
its more about finding a few marks, fishing them regular, and find out when is the best tide and conditions. and only go to them marks on the correct tide/ condition. , just look at the top anglers- a lot of them go to the same marks over and over again, I could name a few from my end
a 15lb cock clam-noses
one this season just under 10lb mackeral/cart mix
had 15 fish over 5lb this season already , all sorts of baits,
they tack out man,
fish baits good, but if your in a crowded comp its likely someone will have better bait and the fish gan for there's.
cart/ fresh crab, usually outfishes fish baits. (however some northern marks an exception)
but if your pleasure fishing, and not many other baits in the water, makeral sausage good as out for fish over 4lb. believe you me
am a big believer that the cod below 3lb tend to dislike makeral, better off with lug. am one for waiting for better stamp- wouldn't fish for anything else............ ......... just my opinion ................just my opinion.....
its more about finding a few marks, fishing them regular, and find out when is the best tide and conditions. and only go to them marks on the correct tide/ condition. , just look at the top anglers- a lot of them go to the same marks over and over again, I could name a few from my end
Last edited:
Lance mcvey
Well-known member
Most of the time larger fish are loan feeders as they eat just about anything in front of them including smaller cod open up a large you will find rocklings blenys small flatys and whiteies large hard backs I've caught doubles on live Rockies large cod turn up the same places most years ie 3 shelves camels left side of rock the 3rd 4 the bay ect
Deans
Well-known member
codhunter81
Well-known member
Cheers for the response lads. No mention of squid I notice, noted.
I appreciate like some have pointed out that there is a degree of luck involved but as others have said bait, conditions and tides are the 3 biggest factors in fishing. Bait being the only one we can control of course
Obviously location as well but me personally, I would rather be in the wrong place with the best bait than the best spot with some washed out rag I dug out the bottom of the freezer.
I have never used bluey before but just ordered some and will give it a shot.
Cheers
Squid has worked for me mixed with backs. Had good few fish between 5 and 7 using that. Bluey has also produced decent fish. No doubles yet though. Think it depends what ground your fishing into aswel. I've used them baits over clean ground and had very little.
I must admit I don't know where the best marks are for the big fish up my way. Far fewer people fishing up this neck of the woods (in winter anyway) in my experience so less people to ask/ local knowledge etc. Just need to put the hours in I guess
I agree with you deans as to smaller codling not so keen on fish baits. Not thinking of ditching the rag, mussel, squid etc but introducing more fish and crab into my bait bucket from these posts.
Again with the luck stories around catching monsters on single worms etc. I am looking for a slightly more consistent and targeted approach. There are many more consistent anglers on here, for example posing in their garage on a regular basis with fish other anglers on here would kill to catch....not mentioning any names
I agree with you deans as to smaller codling not so keen on fish baits. Not thinking of ditching the rag, mussel, squid etc but introducing more fish and crab into my bait bucket from these posts.
Again with the luck stories around catching monsters on single worms etc. I am looking for a slightly more consistent and targeted approach. There are many more consistent anglers on here, for example posing in their garage on a regular basis with fish other anglers on here would kill to catch....not mentioning any names
The Plum
Well-known member
therl be some great marks for big and normal stamp fish where you are no doubt about it,itl be better there than down hereI must admit I don't know where the best marks are for the big fish up my way. Far fewer people fishing up this neck of the woods (in winter anyway) in my experience so less people to ask/ local knowledge etc. Just need to put the hours in I guess
I agree with you deans as to smaller codling not so keen on fish baits. Not thinking of ditching the rag, mussel, squid etc but introducing more fish and crab into my bait bucket from these posts.
Again with the luck stories around catching monsters on single worms etc. I am looking for a slightly more consistent and targeted approach. There are many more consistent anglers on here, for example posing in their garage on a regular basis with fish other anglers on here would kill to catch....not mentioning any names
Stewart 1971
Well-known member
Good post Dean and makes a lot of sense.
Interesting about the smaller codling and Mackerel though. I had stacks of codling from 1 1/2lb down to mini codlets over the summer on Bluey, in fact I reckon I've had more fish (of whatever species) this year on Bluey than any other bait.
Davyred
Well-known member
Great reply Dean, couldn't agree more.
Target places that produce big fish and fish for big fish - heavier traces/hooks and bigger baits. The big bait is for the scent as they're normally solitary fish, so you want them to smell your bait.
Deans
Well-known member
the marks I fish seaham/ hawthorn, the cod up to about 3lb prefer the lug/blacks/ yellows . just look at the last comp, who won it, what bait he was using. no names mentioned ha ha
if the makeral is the only bait in the water- they might tak it anyways.
it always changes when there a few anglers fishing beside you though doesn't it.
I mean if I had only makeral and someone turned up and had a bucket of cart, I would just walk away and fish somewhere else, I wouldn't stand a chance, on the shots around hawthorn and that
Last edited:
Stewart 1971
Well-known member
Been a fascinating thread this, some really intersting stuff.
Drifting OT but I wanted to go back to one thing...
I once had a 7 1/2lb, 6lb then 9 1/2lb Smoothhound on the same bit of crab. All three fish hit the bait not long after casting out and instead of wasting time baiting up I hoyed it back out while baiting up another rig. By the time I landed the 9 1/2 there was nowt left but a bit of bait elaccy or I'd have hoyed it out again as I still didn't have the next rig baited up
More prosaically, I had the same late summer on Roker. Had a codling about 1 1/4lb on crab just after casting out, didn't have another rig ready so hoyed it back out while I baited up. Ten minutes later nod nod and another similar size codling on the same bait...
Drifting OT but I wanted to go back to one thing...
I wud never cast the same bait back in the water the 2lb fish must have been clamin peach
I once had a 7 1/2lb, 6lb then 9 1/2lb Smoothhound on the same bit of crab. All three fish hit the bait not long after casting out and instead of wasting time baiting up I hoyed it back out while baiting up another rig. By the time I landed the 9 1/2 there was nowt left but a bit of bait elaccy or I'd have hoyed it out again as I still didn't have the next rig baited up
More prosaically, I had the same late summer on Roker. Had a codling about 1 1/4lb on crab just after casting out, didn't have another rig ready so hoyed it back out while I baited up. Ten minutes later nod nod and another similar size codling on the same bait...
Prof Peach
Well-known member
I've been guilty of presenting muckle dungeoness sized baits on a 6/0 with 3 worms, half a squid and garnished with mussels and whatever else I have to hand, hoping a 15lb cod's going to swallow it whole and lip the greedy hook.
One of the things I'm doing differently is smaller baits but changed more often. Keep it fresh n juicy. That 5lber was caught on a 4/0 3/0 pennel with one fattish frozen black lug and a peeler crab.
One of the things I'm doing differently is smaller baits but changed more often. Keep it fresh n juicy. That 5lber was caught on a 4/0 3/0 pennel with one fattish frozen black lug and a peeler crab.
Bushwhacker
Well-known member
All the fish me and my mates had from there were on smelly baits.
Smelly Lug and Mussel were the best.I had my biggest fish on a big baiting of rotten Ragworm.Never had much on fresh worm.
We used to fight over the rubbish bin in the car park for the smelly big blacks the lads from Blackpool used to leave there.
During the summer in the Solway i have had loads of Codling up to 4lb on big macky baits intended for Congers.
