CrabMan
08-24-2008, 10:32 AM
I loaded up the car and took the kids to the beach last Sunday with great expectations they would have a wonderful time and that I could catch some fresh surf bait. http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii148/bvloans/CONDITIONS082208.jpg
I always enjoy looking for bait myself, but when it comes to collecting sand worms, I leave the heavy lifting to the kids.:LOL:
This is a great bait to collect in the summer just after a grunion run when they come near the surface to feast on the grunion eggs. I like to start digging about ten feet below the high tide mark (at low tide). Dig a hole about the diameter of a trash can lid (or bigger) and look for the worms darting through the sand as you dig. Most worms will be about 12" -36" below the surface.http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii148/bvloans/SANDWORMSONHAND0808.jpg :EyePop:Grab a hold of one and carefully dig around it until it pulls from the sand.
The worms are green and peach in color (the color of the eggs they're eatin') and look a lot like a bloodworm. They are about the size of a pencil and move guickly through the sand. They will stay alive in a plastic container with a bit of moist kelp over them for three to five days.http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii148/bvloans/SANDWORMS0808.jpg
I like to put a frozen bottle of water in a small cooler to keep them about 60 degrees.
When fishing with worms I use the carolina rig with a 1/4th to 3/4th ounce sliding sinker. They work well for perch, croaker and the occasional corbina. I've had good luck with them on both the open beach and near jetties, rock and structure. I bet they are probably unbelievable if used beneath some of the local piers for perch.:Rolls Eyes:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii148/bvloans/PERCH0808.jpg
We had a nice time collecting worms and some great luck on Tuesday and Friday catching nice 12-14" perch and a couple yellowfin croaker.http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii148/bvloans/YFC82208.jpg Although a big corbina wasn't in the mix for me this week:Angry: maybe next week I'll use a ghost shrimp wrapped in worm to entice the gray ghost of the surf to bite!:ROFL:
P.S. I sure hope everyone had a great time at Team 57's Irvine Lake event--sorry I couldn't come but the surf was calling!:Big Grin:
I always enjoy looking for bait myself, but when it comes to collecting sand worms, I leave the heavy lifting to the kids.:LOL:
This is a great bait to collect in the summer just after a grunion run when they come near the surface to feast on the grunion eggs. I like to start digging about ten feet below the high tide mark (at low tide). Dig a hole about the diameter of a trash can lid (or bigger) and look for the worms darting through the sand as you dig. Most worms will be about 12" -36" below the surface.http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii148/bvloans/SANDWORMSONHAND0808.jpg :EyePop:Grab a hold of one and carefully dig around it until it pulls from the sand.
The worms are green and peach in color (the color of the eggs they're eatin') and look a lot like a bloodworm. They are about the size of a pencil and move guickly through the sand. They will stay alive in a plastic container with a bit of moist kelp over them for three to five days.http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii148/bvloans/SANDWORMS0808.jpg
I like to put a frozen bottle of water in a small cooler to keep them about 60 degrees.
When fishing with worms I use the carolina rig with a 1/4th to 3/4th ounce sliding sinker. They work well for perch, croaker and the occasional corbina. I've had good luck with them on both the open beach and near jetties, rock and structure. I bet they are probably unbelievable if used beneath some of the local piers for perch.:Rolls Eyes:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii148/bvloans/PERCH0808.jpg
We had a nice time collecting worms and some great luck on Tuesday and Friday catching nice 12-14" perch and a couple yellowfin croaker.http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii148/bvloans/YFC82208.jpg Although a big corbina wasn't in the mix for me this week:Angry: maybe next week I'll use a ghost shrimp wrapped in worm to entice the gray ghost of the surf to bite!:ROFL:
P.S. I sure hope everyone had a great time at Team 57's Irvine Lake event--sorry I couldn't come but the surf was calling!:Big Grin: