How Long Between Changing Bait?

[SirGunner]

I apologise in advance for whats possibly a silly question but bear in mind I'm completely new to sea fishing
How long do you leave your rigs out if you're not getting any bites? Is this dependent on what baits you're fishing? Do you change the bait everytime you re-cast?

 

[chesilpete]

No point in fishing with no bait on the hooks.
So lob out and wind in after 15 mins... bait untouched change every 25 mins.
If it's destroyed you need to speed it all up.
Do not fish with washed out baits, if you wind in its always an opportunity to put a fresh bait out.

 

[SirGunner]

No point in fishing with no bait on the hooks.
So lob out and wind in after 15 mins... bait untouched change every 25 mins.
If it's destroyed you need to speed it all up.
Do not fish with washed out baits, if you wind in its always an opportunity to put a fresh bait out.

Thanks Pete that seems fairly logical and pretty much what I've been doing so far

 

[chesilpete]

Thanks Pete that seems fairly logical and pretty much what I've been doing so far

It is logic... and it works

 

[Valleyboy]

As above It all depends on the activity of crabs and their brethren and small fish. Also thebait you are using. Some baits wash out quicker than others. I find frozen crab one of the worst. Obviously smaller baits will wash out quicker than big ones

 

[SirGunner]

As above It all depends on the activity of crabs and their brethren and small fish. Also thebait you are using. Some baits wash out quicker than others. I find frozen crab one of the worst. Obviously smaller baits will wash out quicker than big ones

Thanks Valleyboy appreciate the advice mate

 

[chesilpete]

It is logic... and it works

This quite often means chucking a big bait in the gutter so I can keep up with the other rod.

 

[SirGunner]

This quite often means chucking a big bait in the gutter so I can keep up with the other rod.

I tend to fish one rod on worms and the other on a bluey or squid bait. Always seem to have more luck on the worms so far

 

[Mr Fish]

Agree with all said. Only exception I might make is if it’s a big fish/squid bait, I might leave it up to 45 minutes if the bait is otherwise coming back untouched.
Also though that tends to be more when I’m fishing our flat shallow beaches with a big tidal range - can easily retreat back 150 yards or so in that time.

Even then after that amount of time I get twitchy about the bait losing its scent and changing it.

Got a mate who will fish something like a half mackerel for two hours ‘because it looks alright’ and doesn’t seem to understand how washed out it would be by then.

 

[Valleyboy]

Agree with all said. Only exception I might make is if it’s a big fish/squid bait, I might leave it up to 45 minutes if the bait is otherwise coming back untouched.
Also though that tends to be more when I’m fishing our flat shallow beaches with a big tidal range - can easily retreat back 150 yards or so in that time.

Even then after that amount of time I get twitchy about the bait losing its scent and changing it.

Got a mate who will fish something like a half mackerel for two hours ‘because it looks alright’ and doesn’t seem to understand how washed out it would be by then.

I'll leave a big bait 45 mins, maybe a bit longer on a surf beach, a lot l less if the spider crabs are marching. It was the done thing if you wanted tope off the Welsh beaches in the seventies and eighties . Big bait, big reel and plenty of line. Cast out at low and walk it back. I think a two hour soak or even longer was the norm

 

[SirGunner]

Cheers for the tips @Mr Fish @Valleyboy I would love a crack at a decent Tope one day when I have a little more experience to be able to cope with it

 

[Cwab]

It’s all about the scent/ bait and hunger most of the time and having fish in front of you for me, right time, right place and the best bait you can get. Used to fish what I call frozen shite on one rod and live blacks on other in the days of fishing two rods in good conditions and never concluded much bar confidence sky high with live blacks.
Nothing worse than feeding crabs with the best of baits if no fish about.

 

[Valleyboy]

It’s all about the scent/ bait and hunger most of the time and having fish in front of you for me, right time, right place and the best bait you can get. Used to fish what I call frozen shite on one rod and live blacks on other in the days of fishing two rods in good conditions and never concluded much bar confidence sky high with live blacks.
Nothing worse than feeding crabs with the best of baits if no fish about.

Frozen blacks are fine I think. Can fish as well as fresh, as can stickies

 

[Cwab]

Frozen blacks are fine I think. Can fish as well as fresh, as can stickies

Only fish for codling /cod now in autumn, winter and no longer dig due to back so don’t keep live blacks and only fish frozen cocktails but if fish are there do ok but sometimes wonder what if.
Few seasons back been cold and tired hoyed baited trace which had been out forever as last cast into bait bucket and refroze the lot, next time out was way early due to wanting “my” spot and just used it, bang wallop as soon as it hit bottom

 

[Mr Fish]

I'll leave a big bait 45 mins, maybe a bit longer on a surf beach, a lot l less if the spider crabs are marching. It was the done thing if you wanted tope off the Welsh beaches in the seventies and eighties . Big bait, big reel and plenty of line. Cast out at low and walk it back. I think a two hour soak or even longer was the norm

It’s more for bass in my case - the big girls seem to be caught on a certain beach when there’s 200 yards of line out on a big bait.
Normally run out of line on a 30 sized multi and 15lb line after an hour at most, but it’s worth doing as can pick up a few decent ray that way too.

Whereas other beaches where I want it about 40 yards, I’ll walk back once or twice then retrieve and start again.
Which is literally within half hour - as you know, we have a huge tidal range so it’s very different to what the shingle anglers are used to.