Digging ragworm in winter

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Teegerstk
SAI Sea Dog!
Posts: 531
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:47 pm
Favourite Rod: Imax Fr Match Tip
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Favourite Fish: Smooth hound
Location: Wexico

Digging ragworm in winter

#1 Post by Teegerstk »

Hey all.
Until today I hadn't been fishing in over 2 months- was fairly sparse before that too with college. I hit a new mark today but blanked due to my fairly manky mackerel- I thought it had been well looked after although it might've been in the freezer too long; some of the flesh was yellow :oops:
Normally I'd hit up my local rag spot for some, although it wasn't too fruitful on my last visit due to a thick layer of mud covering the digging areas.
It's now quite cold and I'm unsure about whether it's worth giving it a go- do they go down much deeper in the winter and what's the deal with the spawning season?
I feel like I once knew this info but it eludes me.
Thanks in advance
2019 species: codling, whiting, flounder, dab, dogfish, spurdog, sole, smooth hound, bass
2020 species: codling, dab, whiting, flounder, dogfish, turbot, smooth hound, bass
2021 species: flounder, black goby, dogfish, smooth hound
2022 species: dogfish, smooth hound
2023 species: flounder
2024 species: dab, smooth hound, flounder, bass
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Gonzo
SAI Sea Dog!
Posts: 542
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:58 pm
Favourite Fish: Bass
Location: North Dublin

Re: Digging ragworm in winter

#2 Post by Gonzo »

Teegerstk wrote:Hey all.
Until today I hadn't been fishing in over 2 months- was fairly sparse before that too with college. I hit a new mark today but blanked due to my fairly manky mackerel- I thought it had been well looked after although it might've been in the freezer too long; some of the flesh was yellow :oops:
Normally I'd hit up my local rag spot for some, although it wasn't too fruitful on my last visit due to a thick layer of mud covering the digging areas.
It's now quite cold and I'm unsure about whether it's worth giving it a go- do they go down much deeper in the winter and what's the deal with the spawning season?
I feel like I once knew this info but it eludes me.
Thanks in advance
I read that the spawning season for ragworm is April but can be dug any other time of the year so tried digging some last week, I got nowhere near the amount or size that I'd get in the summer but they were there and managed to get enough for a session!
2025 shore species: Bass (1), Dogfish (1), Flounder (4), Whiting (4)
2025 hours fishing on shore: 40
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Gonzo Fishing Ireland
Teegerstk
SAI Sea Dog!
Posts: 531
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:47 pm
Favourite Rod: Imax Fr Match Tip
Favourite Reel: Penn Affinity 7000
Favourite Fish: Smooth hound
Location: Wexico

Re: Digging ragworm in winter

#3 Post by Teegerstk »

Gonzo wrote:
Teegerstk wrote:Hey all.
Until today I hadn't been fishing in over 2 months- was fairly sparse before that too with college. I hit a new mark today but blanked due to my fairly manky mackerel- I thought it had been well looked after although it might've been in the freezer too long; some of the flesh was yellow :oops:
Normally I'd hit up my local rag spot for some, although it wasn't too fruitful on my last visit due to a thick layer of mud covering the digging areas.
It's now quite cold and I'm unsure about whether it's worth giving it a go- do they go down much deeper in the winter and what's the deal with the spawning season?
I feel like I once knew this info but it eludes me.
Thanks in advance
I read that the spawning season for ragworm is April but can be dug any other time of the year so tried digging some last week, I got nowhere near the amount or size that I'd get in the summer but they were there and managed to get enough for a session!
Cheers for that Gonzo, might as well give it a go if I wanna go fishing (nearest bait shop is closed for now!). Any sort of rag will do for the scratching that goes on at this time of year for flounders and the like. I seriously miss those hounds :lol:
2019 species: codling, whiting, flounder, dab, dogfish, spurdog, sole, smooth hound, bass
2020 species: codling, dab, whiting, flounder, dogfish, turbot, smooth hound, bass
2021 species: flounder, black goby, dogfish, smooth hound
2022 species: dogfish, smooth hound
2023 species: flounder
2024 species: dab, smooth hound, flounder, bass
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DAMIEN
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Re: Digging ragworm in winter

#4 Post by DAMIEN »

Diving this time of year is hard,with cold the worms will be deeper usually and decent ones will be hard to find but live bait is always a winner in m opinion depends how long you want spend and how many you need usually handful does me as I’d be using other baits as well
Teegerstk
SAI Sea Dog!
Posts: 531
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:47 pm
Favourite Rod: Imax Fr Match Tip
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Favourite Fish: Smooth hound
Location: Wexico

Re: Digging ragworm in winter

#5 Post by Teegerstk »

DAMIEN wrote:Diving this time of year is hard,with cold the worms will be deeper usually and decent ones will be hard to find but live bait is always a winner in m opinion depends how long you want spend and how many you need usually handful does me as I’d be using other baits as well
No doubt, especially with those mad temperatures we've been having. Indeed the live stuff has been great for flats and bass, and I think it gives an advantage in the winter. Funny how frozen squid outfishes it in the summer :oops:
2019 species: codling, whiting, flounder, dab, dogfish, spurdog, sole, smooth hound, bass
2020 species: codling, dab, whiting, flounder, dogfish, turbot, smooth hound, bass
2021 species: flounder, black goby, dogfish, smooth hound
2022 species: dogfish, smooth hound
2023 species: flounder
2024 species: dab, smooth hound, flounder, bass
FK
SAI Lug Worm
Posts: 23
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:24 pm
Location: Youghal

Re: Digging ragworm in winter

#6 Post by FK »

Lugs very deep too, frozen black lug works well for flounder/bass.
Dogbert
SAI Bait Ball
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Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:09 am

Re: Digging ragworm in winter

#7 Post by Dogbert »

Digging rag this time of year just disturbs and more than likely kills the large female rag that will spawn this year.
Teegerstk
SAI Sea Dog!
Posts: 531
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:47 pm
Favourite Rod: Imax Fr Match Tip
Favourite Reel: Penn Affinity 7000
Favourite Fish: Smooth hound
Location: Wexico

Re: Digging ragworm in winter

#8 Post by Teegerstk »

Dogbert wrote:Digging rag this time of year just disturbs and more than likely kills the large female rag that will spawn this year.
That makes sense, thanks for that. I shall refrain!
Managed to source some frozen bait anyway.
Cheers!
2019 species: codling, whiting, flounder, dab, dogfish, spurdog, sole, smooth hound, bass
2020 species: codling, dab, whiting, flounder, dogfish, turbot, smooth hound, bass
2021 species: flounder, black goby, dogfish, smooth hound
2022 species: dogfish, smooth hound
2023 species: flounder
2024 species: dab, smooth hound, flounder, bass
Khartnett
SAI Lug Worm
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:09 am

Re: Digging ragworm in winter

#9 Post by Khartnett »

No one really digs rag in winter I heard they excrete a slime that puts fish off during winter as they get ready to spawn. Lug in winter


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