Sea Fishing Baits – How to Find & Use Them by Alan Young

Sea Fishing Baits How to Find & Use Them

by Alan Young

96 pp, line-art drawings, 17 cm x 9 cm. Published by Herbert Jenkins in 1957.

Sea Fishing Baits – How to Find & Use Them. Every angler knows the standard baits, such as lugworms, peeler crabs, ragworm and mussels, etc. and most anglers know some equally good alternatives. But what about the host of other baits which are not generally known because they are not universally obtainable? Or the baits which are easy to come by in most cases, are often deadly, yet remain largely neglected because they are not known as baits?

In this book Alan Young discusses all baits, showing where they are to be found, how they can be kept in condition, and how to use them on the hook.

This little hardcover book was one in a series of 15 designed to provide the angling public toilet what’s low-cost books that deal with individual British fish. Each is written by an expert who has made a special study of the particular species concerned, and each is complete in itself. Tackles and methods of fishing are clearly illustrated by line drawings.

The book itself is a little gem. Published in London by Herbert Jenkins in 1957, it is actually older than me. It has a blue hardcover complete with dark blue writing up the spine and is finished what’s a delightful picture on the dust cover which has barely faded despite being over 60 years old. The illustration is a really cool colour representation of the baits covered in the book. There is a table of contents at the front and an index at the back which makes it very easy to find the information you’re looking for.”

Ok, some of the baits included like Piddocks, which is a bivalve shellfish found around Brittian that I have never heard of, might not be relevant to us here in New Zealand. Chapter 10 lists 36 fish species and the baits you should use to target them. Take the Conger Eel for example. Congers eat fish, squid, and all species of crab. Allan Young suggest the following when targeting congers. Fish, from sprat to herring size. Fillets from larger fish. Whole squid. Herrings and mackerel are good, but conger bait must be fresh, and fresh-caught pouting or whiting, for example, is likely to be a better bait than a slightly stale hearing bought from the fishmonger. All that sounds about right to me.

Here are the names of the chapter headings in Sea Fishing Baits – How to Find & Use Them.
Worms.
Crabs.
Shellfish.
Fish Baits.
Prawns and Shrimps.
Squid, Cuttle and Octopus.
Miscellaneous Baits: Groundbaits.
Apparatus.
Preserving Baits.
Fish Foods and Baits.
Artificial Baits.

I picked up this copy for just $2.00 from a market in Nelson. Published in 1957 it is I guess now quite old. It is a delightful little book. I’m not suggesting you race out to get one but if you do manage to spot a copy I suggest you reel in as quickly as you can.