When you go surf fishing, the type of bait that you use can significently impact your successes with the fishing process. The bait you use needs to look, smell, and act like the natural foods that the fish in the surf zone are expecting to find. Using the wrong bait will ensure that you wont find any fish.
However, using the correct bait will increase your chances of catch some fish.
Best Baits To Use For Surf Fishing
1. Bloodworms
Bloodworms are a type of bait that will work for species like flounder and striped bass. Bloodworms are helpful when using cooler water because fish use their sense of smell to find food.
You can purchase bloodworms at bait shops or catch them at a low tide. When you use bloodworms as bait, you should only thread a small amount onto a size 2 or 4 hooks. If you thread too much of the bloodworm onto the hook, it will spin on the hook in the current.
Bloodworms will attract fish because they naturaly release amino acids into the environment. Because bloodworms are fragile, it is a good idea to carry some extra bloodworm when you go surf fishing and to use a fish finder to ensure that the bloodworm rests on the sea floor.
2. Clams
Clams are a type of bait that many surf fishermen uses to catch striped bass, black drum, and sea bass.
Use fresh or frozen clams in your fishing setup. Both types of clams will emit an odor in the water that will attract the fish. Only use the foot or the siphon of the clam and not the belly of the clam.
Using the belly of the clam will cause it to wash off in the sea waves. Clams are a good bait to use in areas with murky waters or rough waters because clams will stay on the hook more better. Make sure the size of the hook matches the size of the clam so that the clam does not look unnatural to the fish.
3. Sand Fleas
Sand fleas, also known as mole crabs, will attract pompano, whiting, and speckled trout. Sand fleas lives in the surf zone, so the fish are very familiar with this type of bait. Sand fleas can be found with a rake at low tide or you can purchase them at a store.
When using sand fleas, hook them through the shell from the bottom of the sand flea up through its shell. Sand fleas are tough and will survive being cast on the hook multiple times into the sea. Sand fleas will be most useful between the warm months when pompano lives in the surf zone.
Using sand fleas in the colder months will be less effective because the fish do not chase crustaceans in cooler waters.
4. Shrimp
Shrimp is a bait that will work for a variety of species such as redfish, snook, flounder, and seatrout. Using live shrimp will be most effective, but frozen shrimp also works if you attach a strip of fish to the shrimp.
Hook the shrimp through the head so that it will swim natural once you release it into the ocean. Shrimp are a primary food source for many types of fish. Because shrimp are also food for crabs and pinfish, be prepared to find these species competing for your bait.
5. Cut Bait
Cut bait is bait made of pieces of oily fish like menhaden, mullet, or mackerel. The scent of cut bait will attract species like bluefish, sharks, and striped bass. Use fresh cut bait instead of old cut bait.
Cut bait is useful because it will last in the water and withstand the ocean waves. Use a two-hook fishing rig so that the bait will not be stole from the sea by the fish when the cut bait is first released.
6. Live Baitfish
Live baitfish species like mullet and killifish attracts large predators.
The movement of the live baitfish when it is in the water will ensure that a predator will not ignore it. Hook the baitfish through the lips or behind the dorsal fin. To keep the baitfish alive while youre fishing, use a bait bucket with an aerator.
Live baitfish will work best when the tide is moving.
7. Artificial Baits
Artificial baits like Gulp! products will work well for surf fishermen.
You will soak these products in scent to attract fish. Artificial baits will stay on the hook longer than natural bait. Many surf fishermen use this bait because it allows them to fish for an extended time without having to change the bait.
8. Soft Plastic Baits
Also, soft plastic baits can be used on jig heads. Using soft plastic bait will allow you to imitate a fleeing baitfish so that the fish will strike at the bait. The condition of your bait is important for your successes when surf fishing.
Most fish are attracted to fresh bait rather than frozen bait. However, using frozen bait is also effective if you allow the frozen bait to thaw slowly in a refrigerator. Thawing the bait in a refrigerator will preserve the scent and texture of the bait.
You should also use bait that will work in the specific conditions of the waters that you are fishing. For example, use tough bait like clams or cut mullet for areas with rough surf. Use bait like bloodworms and live shrimp for calm and clear waters.
Also, you can mix different types of bait together on a single fishing rig.