bait for ray??

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#1 Post by **lumpy** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:13 pm

whats the best bait/cocktail for shore fishing for thornbacks. hopefully getting out for them in the next couple of weeks. we generally only use mackeral for them off the boat, wondering if any body has used other baits, squid, sandeel crab etc. i presume its related to location though.

#2 Post by **kieran** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:21 pm

Off the shore it depends on the location but sandeel wrapped in squid is a good option. razorfish is a superb bait over sand but its soft and needs something else. Lugworm can be good and mackerel works fine too but it all depends on the location. Crab is not commonly used but in some marks it is the only thing that works, in others you need to use king rag.

FWIW

#3 Post by **lumpy** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:47 pm

cheers for that kieran. tink il just bring wcery thing so. heard that the place im thinking of heading to produces best with mackeral and sandeel but i'm entriuged with a squid and sandeel cocktail. further research needed

#4 Post by **dinger** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:12 pm

i would use mainly sand eel and mackerel, but have used crab but with no success. but just rag does work well too

#5 Post by **Tanglerat** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:26 pm

Chunks of herring, we used to swear by chunks of herring in the Thames Estuary in Spring. Just grab a herring and cut it into 1 - 1'1/2 inch chunks. No gutting or filleting involved. Snick the hook through the spine and out the other side.

Not very streamlined for casting mind you, we did it boat angling........ :?

ray · #6 Post by **ray** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:28 pm

normally any thing tall and blonde and i'll go right for it!

#7 Post by **Seaniebo** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:04 am

Watch out BigPhil! :shock:

topbox · #8 Post by **topbox** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:26 pm

julie from carrick took two rays at FAHAN last year on ordinary rag ,but most are taken on sandeel and mackerel.

#9 Post by **gearoid mc s.** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:52 pm

lug and mackerel cocktail unbeatable in the estuary

Irish_Shamrock · #10 Post by **Irish_Shamrock** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:15 pm

Bit of a mixture there.

Sandeel on it's own seems to work best around here, followed closely by sandeel/squid cocktails and next s mackeral.

#11 Post by **Donagh** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:21 pm

I have to say your the only person I've ever heard recommend lug combos for Rays. Thats normally used as a tactic to catch other species with the mackerel to attract rays, dogs and huss. Are you sure you wouldn't catch with mackerel alone.

I normally fish for rays with sand eel or Mackerel and combinations of both. Wrapping the baits in squid not only helps repel crabs but can be the killer combo on the day. On other days it can put fish off.

Donagh

#12 Post by **pete** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:13 pm

Found straight mackerel best, the fresher the better.

Pete

#13 Post by **lumpy** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:30 pm

cheers for that lads. been doing a bit of research on the topic and in the area we intend to fish its sandeel followed by mackeral so i may give that a try. will be bringing lug and squid as well for scratching so may chuck a cocktail with these as well.
on the topic has any body had any luck using prawn for ray. seen that they are the bait in the tamar in england and wondering if anybody has had success with them in the bigger esturies over here. have used them live for wrasse and found them brilliant. just a thought.

#14 Post by **gearoid mc s.** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:11 pm

ya defo the lug and mackerel i mean, alternatives being lug and squid or mackerel drowned in pilchard oil.

#15 Post by **BigPhil** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:52 am

have seen them taking lug and razor cocktail at times ahead of other fish baits, crab doesnt seem to work up here, any one ever try strips of rainbow trout??? great oily bait due to the feed they are feed in farms and tough to stay on the hook too, had sucess from boat for a variety of species and also a degreee of success from shore for some, if you try it let me know the results.

#16 Post by **hairyconger** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:02 am

wudnt know never even seen one landed :( :(

#17 Post by **lumpy** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:57 pm

have used the smaller rainbows you see in the supermarkets for huss and conger with a degree of success but to be honest havnt used it enough to really comment. have seen brown trout used to good effect as well, think a speciman huss was taken on one in kenmare last year if my memory serves me right

b0ogaloo · #18 Post by **b0ogaloo** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:53 pm

one of BigPhils skate baits

[img]http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/4651/albumpicphp6gx.jpg[/img]

:D

Andy

#19 Post by Al » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:59 pm

JAYSIS! Imagine castin that from the shore :)

#20 Post by **corbyeire** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:30 pm

looks a lot like hard work to me :shock:
fairweather man i know :roll:

Sea Angling Ireland

bait for ray??

bait for ray??

bait for rays