Use of ground bait to attract fish while spearfishing

[manoliskamenakis]

I was thinking of using ground bait to attract fish while spearfishing. More specifically a dough-like mixture of corn flour and oatmeal. What do you think? Will it work?

 

[Mr. X]

Same thought occurred to me. But instead of using a mix of dried ground bait and water (which I already had for freshwater angling) I decided to gut any fish I catch at sea. Usually that works quite well, provided conditions allow.

It chums the parts of the fish that are ultimately discarded and reduces the size and weight of caught fish

 

[manoliskamenakis]

Same thought occurred to me. But instead of using a mix of dried ground bait and water (which I already had for freshwater angling) I decided to gut any fish I catch at sea. Usually that works quite well, provided conditions allow.

It chums the parts of the fish that are ultimately discarded and reduces the size and weight of caught fish

Another idea would be to break sea urchins. Fish go nuts for their eggs!!!

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I think bait like that would attract fish that would in turn attract fish big enough to shoot.

 

[Derekn]

I have been gutting and scaling fish as well for the past few years usually before I exit the water though I wouldn't normally wait around to see if it brings in other fish. Sometimes if I bring my catch home without gutting I collect the guts etc into a bag and put them in the freezer to be brought back to the sea during my next outing, I do this mainly because the guts will stink up the bin during warm weather and our bin collection is every two weeks but the added benefit is that nothing goes to waste.

 

[marco15499]

Chumming works wonders. Do it!

 

[mad mat]

Use the whole fish too and keep the pieces small. If it’s a fish you won’t eat knock all the scales off in the water. They flutter down and really get attention. Keep chunks as small as possible to prevent sharks eating them. If just using fish frames, scrape as much neat off as possible and then start breaking off the bones. The commotion alone of you doing this and your knife flashing will bring something out.

Sharks love burley so keep pieces small.

 

[Mr. X]

I have been gutting and scaling fish as well for the past few years usually before I exit the water though I wouldn't normally wait around to see if it brings in other fish. Sometimes if I bring my catch home without gutting I collect the guts etc into a bag and put them in the freezer to be brought back to the sea during my next outing, I do this mainly because the guts will stink up the bin during warm weather and our bin collection is every two weeks but the added benefit is that nothing goes to waste.

I used to freeze heads and guts, still do sometimes. Good for lobster pots too.

Frozen bait might be a long term investment though: I once saw a huge fish at the spot I had dumped my frozen chum over the last 6 months or so. Not sure what the fish was, but about 4' long and too quick for surprised me with my brand new small speargun! Should have taken a shot, it was close enough.

 

[Derekn]

Could have been a bull huss, I see plenty of dogfish where I hunt especially in early summer.