| article: an easy guide to catching beachworms by colin buckley |
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Dated: 29 October, 2003
 | | Working a stink bag in around the wash watching for the little buggers to pop their heads up. |
Fishing the beach on a warm summer evening, exploring every gutter for its population of Yellowfin Bream, Sand Whiting or flathead has got to be one of the best sedatives I know. With only a couple of spare sinkers in the pocket and a bait bucket round the waist, the nomadic beach fisho will score a feed of fish every time.
Bait that draws fish to a hook like relatives to a will reading is live beachworm.” Oh no," I hear you say, "Too hard to catch. I know, I've tried". That's a shame 'cos that humble marine bootlace is absolute dynamite in the surf and fished live with 6-8 kilo line will increase your hit rate overnight. Almost all surf beaches are home to the beachworm and with a bit of practice and PATIENCE you will be one of the few who can boast that they fish using live, self-caught beachworm. Herewith easy instructions on snaring this long, slippery marine animal.
No Wind and a Low Tide
Pick a day that has little wind and get down to the beach about two hours before dead low tide. Contrary to belief, beachworms don't just frequent the low tide mark, but reside about half-water to be amongst breaking surf ensuring that they get a good flow of titbits to feed on. You will need a bait bucket preferably attached to a belt, a stick, some nylon stocking, a metre of string, a pair of worming pliers and some stinky fish such as tuna, pilchards or best of all, kipper.
 | | Worming pliers have small teeth to hold the worm. However, when you become proficient, just use the fingers as this will not damage the worm, giving it a longer shelf life. |
Fill the nylon stocking with the fish, keeping a small piece out for hand bait. Tie the stocking up with the string and tie the other end of the string to the stick. This is now your "stink-bag" or berley which will help you locate the worms. Look for flat sandy areas on the beach that enjoy a constant wash with the outgoing tide. Waft the bag around the washes and check for little "V" shaped areas as worms stick out their heads searching for the source of the smell from the stink-bag. When you locate an inquisitive worm, dig the stick in the sand above the worm, then take a stance above where the worm showed his head. Slowly offer the hand bait to the head of the animal without touching it. Do this underwater as the wash comes in or goes out so as not to spook the worm. Wait until the worm has sunk his teeth into the bait and is arching his back to draw the food underground. Now slowly slip the jaws of the pliers around the worm whilst it's being distracted eating the hand bait. DON'T RUSH. YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME. Close the pliers slowly. The pliers will grab the worm and the teeth will stop it shooting back underground. Keep digging round the worm and pull gently. If you pull too hard you will break the worm. Put the worm in the bait bucket and pat yourself on the back. This is because you have probably tried doing it a hundred times before and this is the first time you have caught a worm! It will take time and patience, and it will be frustrating, but persevere.
Preserve the Stocks
 | | Pile as much worm on the hook as possible. Note that I am a fan of the red plastic or beads on the line when whiting fishing. |
When you have enough worms for a session, take them up the beach and roll them in dry sand. Slide you fingers down the worm to remove the slime and put the worms back in the bait bucket with some fresh damp sand. Only catch enough worms for your immediate needs and if you do have any left over after a fish..PUT THEM BACK. Worms, dropped into a jar of metho for about five seconds will take well to freezing and will act as great stand-by bait.
Baiting the Hook
When putting worm on the hook, use hooks in baitholder pattern, i.e. with little burrs on the shank, so that the bait doesn't slump down onto the bend of the hook. Make sure there are lots of little wiggling ends sticking out, don't just thread the worm on the hook in one piece. At every cast, top up the hook with more oozing worm to keep the mini berley trail active. So there you have it. When you do become a competent wormer, watch your catch rate soar. After all, it is the surf dwelling fish's natural tucker.
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