Lamprey as Bait?

[SirGunner]

I've used Lamprey and had plenty of success while doing so for Pike but just wondering if anyone has tried them as a bait while beach fishing? They absolutely ooze out blood and oils so thinking about trying them for some Ray fishing. Anybody got any experience or advice?
Cheers

 

[Angrybear]

I see no reason why not, most of the time fish aren't all that fussy, If it's a natural food they'll eat it if they find it

 

[Ollieollie]

I’ve wondered this myself before for the same reasons.

 

[Topwater]

Worth a try. Last time I saw it for sale it I thought it was expensive

 

[SirGunner]

I've had a search online and can find very little about beach fishermen using lamprey and the little I have found is of people saying they tried it but had no luck. I find this very surprising given the amount of blood and oil they give off. I'm going to give them a go this year, nothing to lose trying them lol I agree @Topwater they are fairly pricey but if it turns out to be a good bait it'll be worth it I think

 

[welshtroutfisher]

Have thought about using lamprey for tope. It gives off a smell and quite a lot of blood. Have some in the freezer ready for the summer

 

[SirGunner]

Have thought about using lamprey for tope. It gives off a smell and quite a lot of blood. Have some in the freezer ready for the summer

Yeah Eel section is supposed to be good for Tope down here in the South East too. Can't see why Lamprey wouldn't work.

 

[welshtroutfisher]

Can't hurt to try it. I'll be taking a pack or 2 with me along with Mackrell to see if they go for it. Anything with scent and blood should do the same job I would of thought

 

[flappy]

Steady on chaps…

Sea lamprey | Rare and protected fish

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is the largest of the three lamprey species in the UK. Lamprey fossils have been found in the late Silurian and Devonian periods, approximately 450 million years ago.

canalrivertrust.org.uk

 

[SirGunner]

Steady on chaps…

Sea lamprey | Rare and protected fish

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is the largest of the three lamprey species in the UK. Lamprey fossils have been found in the late Silurian and Devonian periods, approximately 450 million years ago.

canalrivertrust.org.uk

I'm not taking about catching Sea Lamprey and using them as bait @flappy I'm talking about the lamprey you buy frozen for pike bait which I believe are River Lamprey

 

[flappy]

I'm not taking about catching Sea Lamprey and using them as bait @flappy I'm talking about the lamprey you buy frozen for pike bait which I believe are River Lamprey

 

[SirGunner]

View attachment 79778

Well thanks for pointing that out @flappy I was completely unaware that frozen Lamprey bait was from threatened fish stocks. How are tackle shops and bait suppliers able to stock and sell threatened species?

 

[flappy]

Well thanks for pointing that out @flappy I was completely unaware that frozen Lamprey bait was from threatened fish stocks. How are tackle shops and bait suppliers able to stock and sell threatened species?

 

[welshtroutfisher]

Well that's news to me as well. Have used it for pike for years and it's normally loads in stock and not exactly in short supply in the shops I use

 

[Kine262]

Well thanks for pointing that out @flappy I was completely unaware that frozen Lamprey bait was from threatened fish stocks. How are tackle shops and bait suppliers able to stock and sell threatened species?

Most lamprey supplied as bait in the UK is sourced from Estonia, although there are still limited licences issued for pot catching of them in the UK, mostly from the Trent or the Humber estuary and the Yorkshire Ouse. Licences in the UK are set at 20% of predicted population, but this figure fails to take into account other environmental pressures on the lamprey, even given it's enormous reproductive capacity.

 

[SirGunner]

Most lamprey supplied as bait in the UK is sourced from Estonia, although there are still limited licences issued for pot catching of them in the UK, mostly from the Trent or the Humber estuary and the Yorkshire Ouse. Licences in the UK are set at 20% of predicted population, but this figure fails to take into account other environmental pressures on the lamprey, even given it's enormous reproductive capacity.

Thanks for the info @Kine262 I think I'll be putting the Lamprey idea on the back burner now.