What is the most suitable and effective bait to use when fishing for red seabass?

Behaviour

A few things you need to know about the feeding behaviour of red tilapia

Red-tailed catfish generally prefer to feed on natural baits such as earthworms, bloodworms and crickets. As for man-made baits, this species tends to favour those with a fishy or fragrant odour.

The fish’s preference for a fishy or fragrant flavour varies depending on the water conditions. In murky water, they prefer bait with a stronger fishy flavour, whilst in clear water, they favour bait with a more fragrant aroma

Discover the time-honoured method for making red seabass bait from maize meal

Please prepare the following ingredients for making red-spotted snakehead bait from maize bran:

Maize bran bait

Ingredients

• Maize bran: 500g
• Star anise powder: 30g
• Earthworms

Method:

• First, prepare the bait:
• Roast the maize meal over a low heat until it turns a deep golden colour and gives off a fragrant aroma.
• Mix the cornmeal and star anise
• When you reach the fishing spot, add a little soil from the riverbank and mix well, then add water at the spot until the mixture is pliable and can be moulded into a ball.
• Shape the bait and drop it into the fishing spot

After about 30 minutes to 1 hour, once the fish have been lured in, hook a worm onto the hook to use as bait. Take care to hook it gently, starting from about one-third of the worm’s body towards the tail. Do this carefully so that the worm is still alive and wriggling when hooked; this is the only way to attract red-finned carp. Finally, cast the bait for red-finned carp close to the bottom and wait for the fish to take the bait – and you’re done.

Pellet bait

The ingredients for making red seabass bait from fishmeal pellets are very simple:

• Fishmeal pellets: 300g (the type specifically used for feeding fish in fish cages)
• Water: 300ml

Method:

• Place the pellets in a bowl, pour in enough water to cover them, then drain off the water.
• After 10 minutes, check if the feed is soft; it should hold together when squeezed by hand without falling apart.
• When fishing, roll the feed into small balls and hook them onto the hook. Once you have cast the hook close to the bottom, scatter the small feed balls onto the surface of the lake to attract the fish more quickly.
• This method for making bait for red-eared sunfish is specifically designed for fishing for red-eared sunfish in recreational lakes.

Birdseed bait

The ingredients for making red-eared sunfish bait from bird feed include:

• Small fishmeal
• Bird feed
• D1
• Milk fat.

Method:

• The characteristic of the red-tailed catfish is that it prefers bait that is both fishy and fragrant; therefore, when mixing the bait, you should adjust the ratio of the ingredients depending on the water conditions.
• Among the ingredients listed above, fishmeal plays a role in creating a fishy odour, whilst the other three components are responsible for creating a fragrant odour.
• When fishing for red-spotted croaker in murky water, increase the amount of fishmeal and reduce the quantities of the other ingredients. This is necessary because the fish prefer a fishier-smelling bait at this time.
• Conversely, if you are fishing in clear water, you should increase the proportion of the ingredients that create a pleasant aroma and reduce the amount of fishmeal.
• Once you’ve grasped the principle behind making bait for red-spotted croaker, catching fish becomes a simple matter.

The most effective bait?

Learn the trick to making ultra-responsive
bait for red-spotted croaker Ingredients needed to make ultra-responsive bait for red-spotted croaker:

• Bait No. 7: 1 packet
• Bait No. 8: 1 packet
• Carp bait: 1 jar
• Worms

Method:

• Mix 2 packets of fishing bait No. 7 and No. 8 thoroughly
• Then add 2 capfuls of carp bait milk and stir well. Mixing the bait in this way will create a mixture with a fishy odour and a faint, pleasant scent.
• Gradually add water, stirring constantly until the bait is slightly damp, loose and crumbly, with no lumps
• When fishing, cast the bait into the water to attract the fish.
• Then hook a worm onto the hook, cast it in and wait for a bite.

Bait for river red-eared sunfish

You can use this bait recipe for bottom fishing, single-hook fishing or lancer fishing. The ingredients for river red carp bait are:

• Egg meal (also known as birdseed): 1/3 of a packet
• Nguyen Khang fishing bait: 1 packet
• Kim Ngư No. 2 bait (red packet): 1 packet
• Sandwich bread: 2 slices
• Crickets

Method as follows:

• Crumble the sandwich bread, pour in the packet of Kim Ngư fishing bait and mix thoroughly. Next, add the packet of Nguyên Khang fishing bait and continue mixing. Finally, add the birdseed and stir thoroughly by hand.
• When you reach the fishing spot, cast the mixed bait into the water to attract the fish.
• Hook the cricket onto the hook so that it is still alive and can move freely.
• Once a large school of fish has gathered, lower the cricket into the water to entice them to take the bait.
• A small tip for those fishing for red-spotted snakehead: you should cast your bait 1–2 hours in advance to avoid startling the fish, as this species is highly sensitive to noise and human presence.

Buy fishing bait at Tuấn Kiệt’s shop on Shopee: