best smooth hound bait?

ok i wanna add another species to the list this year, can u tell me what baits tend to work best?
cheers

Hi

I am told peeler crab (two at a time on a pennel rig) on a zip slider rig is about the best you can use... ask Cooke, as he has caught some...

FWIW (which may not be much!) :wink:

Peeler crab is indeed the best imho. I just fish it on a 1 hook clip down patternoster or pulley rig. Size 1/0 or 2/0. Other baits work also such as Hermit crab, squid and ive had them on ragworm too.

I wouldn't use anything other than crab if you intend to specialise in smoothies. What might be good news is that while peeler is usually the best bait, it is not always the primary bait when specialising. Large softback and leatherback crabs, even harbcaks to a lesser extent still attract hounds and suffer less from interception by other species.

Brian,

Spot on! Large live softies with the legs riggling....perfect :)

Tom.

I have had some great success with hermits for them I have to say!

I wouldnt be too up on using hermit crab, lads. Good I take it?

Wes its good stuff alright, prob no better than peeler its just that the hermits are pretty much always soft, therefor good for bait, thats why they have to seek out a shell to live in.

I must give it a bash.

Off for the rest of the week now, going to get the rod and wet some line...its been a while.....even if its just to sit there and catch nothing. You know how it is when you havent been out for a spell. Gear me up even more for the exhibition. :D

If you are like me and cant get crab too easily a good backup is King Rag, I also had a number of smaller fish on lug, squid and Mackerel last year.

would ye say any of these beaches for smoothhound and tope are relatively accessible from carlow.

As far as I know lumpy theres a decent road from Carlow to Arklow. From here your fairly close to Clones Morriscastle etc

cheers for that. may try it towatds the end of the year

cheers for that. may try it towatds the end of the year