Mussels as Bait

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Pedro
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Mussels as Bait

Post by Pedro » Sun Oct 16, 2016 4:57 pm

I've sourced mussels from the local fishmonger and used them straight from their shells, however, find it difficult to keep them on my hooks for any length of time. Wondering what others might do re: sourcing mussels, preparing them and in particular how they're attached to your hooks.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, pedro@cliftonsprings. :water:

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4liters
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Re: Mussels as Bait

Post by 4liters » Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:07 pm

never used them myself but I've seen 2 things posted from time to time that might be of help:
first is to take them out of their shells a day before and put them in salt to toughen them up
the second is to get the NZ green lipped mussels (or whatever they're called) because they're cheaper and tougher and work just as well as the local ones

as I say, that is second hand info so hopefully someone else has tried them and can vouch for their usefulness (or lack thereof)
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skronkman
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Re: Mussels as Bait

Post by skronkman » Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:07 pm

I've heard that you open them at home, Salt them and pop em in the fridge. They toughen up and stay on the hook better.

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Fish-cador
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Re: Mussels as Bait

Post by Fish-cador » Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:40 pm

Steal you wife's sewing threads. Do not use elastic baitmate. It will ruin your mussels

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Re: Mussels as Bait

Post by denis barden » Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:54 pm

Clean them and put them in szive drain them of most of the liquid and salt heaps put in freezer , they wont freeze they work a treat

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4liters
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Re: Mussels as Bait

Post by 4liters » Sun Oct 16, 2016 6:04 pm

Fish-cador wrote:Steal you wife's sewing threads. Do not use elastic baitmate. It will ruin your mussels
what does the elastic do to them?
2015/16 Fisting Victoria Species comp total: 289cm
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FishnMiss
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Re: Mussels as Bait

Post by FishnMiss » Sun Oct 16, 2016 8:52 pm

4liters wrote:
Fish-cador wrote:Steal you wife's sewing threads. Do not use elastic baitmate. It will ruin your mussels
what does the elastic do to them?
My experience with the elastic bait mate is that it is too thick and stretchy and just cuts through the mussels and destroys them.
I use a very fine bait mate called Black Magic that is $5.95 a roll (more than the elastic stuff but better) and is like fine silk/cotton to tie my Pippies, Mussells, Pillies (if they're not toughened by salting them) and when you snap it you don't rip your bait in half and you don't need scissors t cut).
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Misheen
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Re: Mussels as Bait

Post by Misheen » Mon Oct 17, 2016 9:16 pm

Use the thread and twist method when putting it on the hook. E.g. Thread then twist then thread then twist till it's all on

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Re: Mussels as Bait

Post by Fish-cador » Tue Oct 18, 2016 4:23 pm

Misheen wrote:Use the thread and twist method when putting it on the hook. E.g. Thread then twist then thread then twist till it's all on
that will work too but you there is a big chance it will fly when you cast.

Use sewing thread ($1 for 500m) or bait buddy as shown in the photo. Both works just fine. I can cast as far as I can when chasing KGW from the beach.

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