Bass fishing livebait

There are many live baits that can be used for Bass fishing, almost anything that lives in the sea can be considered.

Sand eel has always been a popular choice for Bass anglers. Using them live by lip hooking them on a long trace and then free lining them under a boat while it drifts over good quality fishing ground, is a very typical method. A small ball bullet or similar weight can be used if required. Another way to fish live sand eel would be to lower them into a tidal race from the shore and let the tide take them out. Live eel under float is another popular method.

Small Pouting, Pollock or Mackerel can be fished in the same manner as above, but being more robust they can also be cast from the shore. The best method to hook them again in my opinion is lip hooked. Some people suggest hooking the belly, tail or back but I have issues with this (just a personal thing)

Live prawn is possibly my first choice of Bass bait. Prawn are easy to collect and tail hooked last a long time on the hook. They seem to out fish all other live baits in my experience. If fishing in shallow ground from a Kayak or boat I use a small bubble float and a long leader to prevent them holding up in the rocks / sea bed. I fish using a light spinning rod and fixed spool reel with 8-10 lb line, normally a braid.