Salting Baits

I read on another forum about salting your leftover bait. So after my last fishing trip to the blue pool , I decided to give it a go.
I had about a pound of rag, 2 packets of sandeels and some mackeral fillets.

The original poster suggested buying salt from the local fishmonger, but it was four am on a sunday ...and I didnt think he would appreciate me wakening him... so I used dishwasher salt :)

Using a wooden box about 12" x 12" . I first sprinkled in a layer of salt. then a layer of the mackeral fillets, another layer of salt then the sandeels, finally the rag and more salt on top of them... Came back to it 24 hours later , all the baits had toughened up .... and there was an inch or so of liquid ( brine) in the bottom of the box .... I brushed the salt off and put the baits in containers in the freezer... was out tonight with Lee and gave the rag a go...caught doggies and codling on it ... when it had defrosted it wasnt soggy, it was like leather ...stayed on the hooks really well.

I have refrozen what I didnt use tonight, and will try it again the next time im out ...


Andy

using salted mack fillets for ling can sometimes outfish fish in certain areas