Bait fishing is not simply threading something onto a hook. How the bait sits in the water decides whether a fish eats it confidently and whether the hook can find purchase.
Here is the practical rigging for the five baits that cover most Australian fishing.
Prawn — peeled and unpeeled
Thread the hook in at the tail and run it through the body so the prawn sits straight. A bent prawn spins in current and looks wrong to bream and whiting.
Leave the shell on in dirty water for scent and durability; peel it in clear water where fish inspect the bait.
Pilchard on a ganged hook
Three or four 4/0 to 5/0 ganged hooks, first hook through the eye socket, the rest evenly spaced along the body with the last near the tail.
This keeps the pilchard straight for casting and covers the full length so tailor slashing at the back are still hooked.
Squid strips and whole squid
Cut strips into a long tapered wedge and hook once through the thick end so the tail flutters. Whole squid for mulloway is best pinned with two hooks: one through the head, one through the hood.
Squid stays on the hook longer than any other bait, which makes it the right choice in pickery water.
Live bait — bridle and pin
For yellowtail, slimy mackerel and mullet, pin the hook lightly through the nose or bridle it with floss so the bait swims naturally and stays alive.
Never hook a livey deep in the back unless you want it to swim to the bottom and die there.
Beach worms and nippers
Thread a long-shank hook through the head and down the body of the worm, leaving a short tail to wave. Nippers get a single light pin through the tail so they stay alive and kick.
Key takeaways
- ▸A straight bait catches; a bent bait spins.
- ▸Match hook size to bait size, not to the fish you hope to catch.
- ▸Fresh beats frozen almost every time — buy it green where you can.
- ▸Re-bait on a schedule; washed-out bait is worse than no bait.
This guide is general information only. Fishing regulations differ by state and change regularly — confirm current rules with your fisheries authority before you fish.