Hi all,

I have been boat fishing for Cod nearly every week for the past year and during this time I have experimented with quite a few different baits. Yesterday it paid off and how.
My favourite bait is Lug tipped off with a bit of Squid. Due to the tides and lack of daylight the Lug was in short supply.

I took about 6 squid, chopped them up in various sized and then put them in a plastic bag containing Monster Crab and Cod Liver Oil. It stinks a bit but we smell a bit when we get back from a trip so what the heck. The squid marinated for 24 hours.

I also took Razor Fish and Rag worm. The ten clients on the boat were all using Muppets, Hokeys, Pirks or Rag Worm.

We were drifting the wrecks as normal. I missed a few drifts because of lost gear as did others. I was fishing in the bow of the boat as normal so as not to cause tangles with the paying customers.

To cut a long story short, I had 22 Cod, returned 4 as they were a bit small (much to the disgust of the clients).

The next highest tally was FOUR cod.

One of the clients went to the skipper and complained that there were no fish on this wreck, he just laughed and pointed to my half full fish box and then to me as I dumped another plump Cod on the deck.

As usual, the clients started to leave the back of the boat and started to crowd me on the bow. I baited up, went to the stern where there was now lots of room, drop down, bang, and another nice cod slaps the deck.
I went in for a cup of tea and the clients drifted back to there normal places as there were no more fish to catch in the bow of the boat. A bit warmer and refreshed I went back to the bow and it started all over again.

I gave one of the lads some of my bait as he was full of fun but empty of fish. Drop down, bang, his first fish of the day.

I don't know if it was the flavour or the combination of razor and squid but it worked well for me on the day.

In conclusion, if you do a fair bit of boat fishing, try experimenting for a couple of drifts. As long as your bait is in contact with the bottom you should catch if the fish are there.

Tight lines and thanks for taking the time to read the ramblings of a smelly old angler.

Tight lines.

Alan(nl)
ps I should add the clients were all members of a club and had some nice tackle and protective clothing with them so must assume they were experienced anglers.

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[This message has been edited by Alan Taylor (edited 17 December 2001).]

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Alan.
I couldn`t agree more. Whenever I see the phrase `Fresh bait is best` in one of the sea fishing mags, I just laugh!! Fish either rely on sight or smell to locate prey? Most of them being predators, always take the easy meal first? Which is invariably a dead fish giving off a pungent odour! The best `dubby` for sharks has been cooking for days in a dustbin? Rubbery black lug wrapped in newspaper is as good as fresh?
Anything that gives a good scent trail is going to attract fish?
Paul Compton