What Is A Baitfish - Why Do We Need Baitfish - Which Baitfish to Use

The Best Baitfish To Use For All Type of Fishing

For Anglers Baitfish are small fish or other aquatic organisms used as bait to attract larger predatory fish when fishing. Anglers commonly use baitfish to increase their chances of catching larger game fish. These small fish can be alive or dead, depending on the fishing technique and target species.

Common types of baitfish used for fishing include:

Minnows: Small freshwater fish like shiners, fathead minnows, and creek chubs are often used as live bait for various freshwater species such as bass, pike, zander, trout and walleye. There are minnows that live in salt water too. If you plan to use live minnows as bait, it's crucial to keep them alive and healthy. Use a bait bucket or aerated bait tank to maintain oxygen levels and water temperature. It's best to purchase live minnows from a reputable bait shop to ensure their quality and health.

Anchovies: Anchovies are commonly used as bait in saltwater fishing, particularly for species like tuna and marlin. They are often used in chunks or strips as both fresh and frozen bait.

Sardines: Sardines are another popular saltwater baitfish used in chunk or whole form for attracting predatory saltwater species like striped bass, tarpon, and sharks. Sardines are effective baitfish due to their natural scent and the fact that they closely resemble the prey of many predatory fish. Using them as bait can increase your chances of success when fishing for a variety of species, especially in areas where sardines are a natural part of the ecosystem.

Mackerel: Mackerel is a versatile baitfish that can be used fresh or frozen for saltwater and some freshwater fishing, attracting species like tuna, bluefish, barracuda. Mackerel is favored by anglers as bait due to its strong scent, oil content, and the fact that it closely resembles the natural prey of many predatory fish. Whether you're saltwater or freshwater fishing, using mackerel can increase your chances of attracting and catching a variety of game fish.

Menhaden: Menhaden, also known as bunker or pogies, are oily baitfish used in both saltwater and freshwater fishing to attract species like striped bass, redfish, and catfish.

Herring: Herring is a popular baitfish in regions with access to it, used for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. It's commonly used for salmon and trout fishing. Herring can be used either fresh or frozen, but fresh herring is often more effective due to its strong natural scent. Fresh herring can be rigged in various ways to mimic the baitfish these predatory species naturally feed on. Herring can be rigged whole, cut into chunks, or filleted depending on the fishing technique and target species. Rigging methods include trolling whole herring, using cut bait strips, or filleting and using herring strips on various rigs.

Shrimp: While not technically fish, shrimp are small aquatic creatures used as bait in both saltwater and freshwater fishing. They are effective for species like snapper, redfish, and crappie. Shrimp can be used as live bait or dead bait, depending on the fishing situation and target species. Live shrimp are often preferred for their natural movement, but dead shrimp can also be effective when rigged properly. When using live shrimp, anglers often present them by letting them swim naturally or by slowly retrieving them to mimic the movement of a live shrimp. Dead shrimp can be presented either by letting them drift with the current or by actively working them on the bottom.

The choice of baitfish depends on the target species, the fishing location, and local regulations. Some anglers also use artificial lures that mimic the appearance and movement of baitfish to attract predatory fish. Using baitfish effectively requires knowledge of the specific fish species you're targeting and the best bait presentation techniques for that species.