Sardine (Pilchard) Fish bait
Oily, cheap and deadly — a staple for shad, kob and sharks. The smell does the work.
📍 Where to collect / buy
Frozen boxes from any tackle shop or supermarket.
❄️ Preservation
Keep frozen until use; salt or brine to firm up soft summer fish.
🪝 Rigging
Cut into cutlets or fillets; whole for sharks; bind soft baits with cotton.
🎯 Presentation
Half-hitch cotton around soft baits; a fillet flutters on the drop.
🐟 Best species
Shad, kob, sharks, geelbek, katonkel
#️⃣ Hook sizes
2/0-5/0 for cutlets
💪 Durability
Low — soft; brine to improve
Note: bait collection (prawn pumping, mussel/redbait picking, cast-netting) requires the correct permit and is subject to daily limits and closed areas. See regulations.
