Alternative Cod baits for the Bristol Channel?

[Cod301gmh]

Hiya,

Here's a question to all the boyz who fish the Bristol Channel (especially from boats out of Penarth). Each year black lug seems to get more expensive/difficult to obtain. My assumption is that cod feed by scent & vibration in the murky water. I agree black lug contains lots of juices, however, wouldn't a whole mackie/herring flapper have as much/more juices than 9 inches of black lug or Rag? Also, whenever i've caught cod from the channel they've generally been full of crabs and prawns. Has anyone had any success with prawns?

I would be interested in your thoughts?

P.S. Great site!

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Has anyone had any success with prawns?

Must admit been thinking the same thing but what Ive heard is that its not brill but maybe a few bobby beads as well might make the difference

Will be interesting to hear what other people views are

[Old Smoothound]

Hi mate,

I have not had any great success with Peeler my side of the Channel. But I did have a good Cod take a whole King Prawn last season. Sadly I lost it in the rocks but I did not try it again.

The Cod feed on the prawns until the frosts send them out from the mud falts back into deeper water. And if the spratts are in like they are now the Cod go off the Prawns in favour of other food sources for some reason.

I have caught the majority of my Cod on Rag and Squid cocktails or Blow Lug and Squid Cocktails. If I use Black lug it is fresh and gutted which I believe to be the best bait for Codling anyway. But as you say they get harder to get and more expensive each year.

[Charter Skipper]

Black lug may be expensive ,but it produces the goodies........Fish bait does produce the smell ,but not the movement of a live fish in ditress,which cod will take ,the natural combination is just not there.Fish hunt on a combination of smell and vibration,live small whiting or tiny codling are great bait for bigger cod as there is movement and smell which is natural.Worms produce a great scent trail,and in natural conditions do not produce a high level of vibration,hence the Cod take them on smell alone.

The Cod caught are quite righty full of crabs and shrimps,the best Cod fishing is over coral bottoms,the shrimps are there feeding on the worms in the coral,the crabs are there feeding on the shrimps and worms,so a worm bait attracts both shrimps and crabs,so really when the bait settles your fishing with 3 baits on the bottom,worm,shrimp and crab....the greedy Cod comes along,grabs the lot and your in !!.....well thats the theory ! Black lug last the longest against the assault of the shrimps and crabs a produce the most scent to attract them ..

Have had some sucess for Smoothounds in summer with Tiger prawns,never tried them for Cod as the worm works extremly well.

A typical Cod bait for the Bristol Channel....



Speaking purely from experiance ,worm baits produce the "goodies "time and time again........Fish baits in the Bristol channel,produce congers and some great Rays..

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Some very interesting posts

Sooooooooo what about fishing for cod with sprats ?

Has anyone had any thing on sprats or would you be wasting your time fishing with sprats for cod ?

[Old Smoothound]

MMMMmm The problem with the Cod feeding on Spratts is that they can be anywhere in the water column and are very hard to locate from the shore.

In my experience around the Portishead area and Denny Island where the Spratts congregate is that the Cod become preoccupied with them and follow them up and down in the water.

But as Mike has said Fish baits equals Conger or Rays of the thorny variety generally.

But hey its another method to try isn't it

[Fishing Forum Admin]

But hey its another method to try isn't it

Just what I was thinking

Was going to give them a go last time out of penarth but could not get any sprats

MMMM pennel rig with 15 worms tipped with a sprat each end

[Charter Skipper]

Originally Posted by Fishing Forum Admin

MMMM pennel rig with 15 worms tipped with a sprat each end

Hmmmmm......me thinks dead fish are a dead loss,specially for cod fishing.

[Cod301gmh]

Interesting stuff.. Mike wouldn't be as successful as he is if he didn't know what he was talking about. So... i think if i can get out on my boat over the weekend I'll fish 2 rods with worm/squid, 1 rod with prawns, 1 rod with a fishy bait and a downtider with a livebait. I'll let you know how i get on.

[Charter Skipper]

Good luck,for the weekend,gives us a wave if you see us out there.....