The Fishing Website : Discussion Forums : Salting Bait https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/ Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:21:13 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.01 360 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=11945 <![CDATA[The Fishing Website : Discussion Forums]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/ <![CDATA[Salting Bait : I always used to have a salt bait...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827794&title=salting-bait#1827794 Author: waynorth
Subject: 11945
Posted: 26 Jul 2022 at 8:21pm

I always used to have a salt bait bucket - I normally started it off with pillies to toughen them up, but I would chuck all the leftovers in there as well after each trip. I used to buy 25kg sacks of feed salt from my local Fruitfed. Bit gritty but did the job fine.

Tip out the water the salt draws out every so often. Worked great for soft baits like pillies & blue macs, and saved re-freezing tougher baits like jack mac & kahawai fillets. They didn't really benefit from the toughening up, especially kahawai which is tough enough fresh even without skin. Squid came out exactly the same as it went in. Good to have onboard when your main bait supply is getting low. Gets a bit smelly after a couple of months. Rinse - repeat. 
]]> Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:21:13 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827794&title=salting-bait#1827794 <![CDATA[Salting Bait : sea salt soak for a day or two,squid...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827785&title=salting-bait#1827785 Author: Pcj
Subject: 11945
Posted: 26 Jul 2022 at 5:32pm

sea salt soak for a day or two,squid ,scaled mullet or fish you prefer,air tight jar,drain after 2 days,keeps for weeks]]> Tue, 26 Jul 2022 17:32:38 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827785&title=salting-bait#1827785 <![CDATA[Salting Bait : I haven&#039;t used salted bait...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827781&title=salting-bait#1827781 Author: smudge
Subject: 11945
Posted: 26 Jul 2022 at 3:02pm

I haven't used salted bait for many years but when I made it I always drained it. I must give this a go]]> Tue, 26 Jul 2022 15:02:22 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827781&title=salting-bait#1827781 <![CDATA[Salting Bait : As a reluctant bait fisherman,...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827778&title=salting-bait#1827778 Author: MB
Subject: 11945
Posted: 26 Jul 2022 at 1:08pm

As a reluctant bait fisherman, doubt I'll ever salt my own bait, but I'm pretty impressed with the shop bought stuff. Purchased a small bucket of slimy mackerel for $30 and it was only about 1/4 full! That was 2 years ago and still have some left. Despite my moaning at the time, it's saved me a heap of money and hassle and does actually catch fish too!]]> Tue, 26 Jul 2022 13:08:36 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827778&title=salting-bait#1827778 <![CDATA[Salting Bait : I bait fish most times using salted...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827765&title=salting-bait#1827765 Author: BananaBoat
Subject: 11945
Posted: 25 Jul 2022 at 7:09pm

I bait fish most times using salted pilchards
kg pillies, quarter that weight of salt in ice cream container in the garage, its ready to use after 5-7days
In my experience, I find the pillies are better than salted kahawai. Salted squid is the worse stuff out there
The squid, I just refreeze it time & again & it seems to work ok (Manukau harbour) as long its not completely thawed out
After a sesh, return the salted stuff back to the ice cream container that has the juices & let it marinate till needed
My salted baits sit in the garage & it gets bloody hot in there during summer... no smell & the bait still catches fish
As far as salted baits go for me... in this order - pilles, piper, mullet, mackerel / trev.... other baits are not worth a mention, squid the worse
Mackerel / Trev is best used fresh or refrozen if not completely thawed out, salting is a last resort]]> Mon, 25 Jul 2022 19:09:43 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827765&title=salting-bait#1827765 <![CDATA[Salting Bait : This is exactly what my Grandfather...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827741&title=salting-bait#1827741 Author: Shilo
Subject: 11945
Posted: 25 Jul 2022 at 8:09am

This is exactly what my Grandfather used to do.  He lived right on the beach and had jars of salted Kahawai on his garage shelf to grab whenever he wanted to go surfcasting.   As a kid fishing with him, I remember it as great bait and would always use it over any frozen stuff.   Can't remember how long it lasted but it would have easily been over a year.  

]]> Mon, 25 Jul 2022 08:09:34 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827741&title=salting-bait#1827741 <![CDATA[Salting Bait : I know it&#039;s an old thread,...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827739&title=salting-bait#1827739 Author: Coastbusters
Subject: 11945
Posted: 25 Jul 2022 at 3:59am

I know it's an old thread, but people may still be reading it for advice. I met an old fisho at the weekend who has a different method. He gets a large plastic screw top jar (about a litre sized). He pre cuts his kahawai into bait sized strips, layers them, then layer of salt, layer of bait, salt, etc til it is chock full and screws the lid on. The juices ooze out and the jar becomes full of liquid. He doesn't drain it and the bait doesn't dry out. The bait stays flexible and moist, but tough. The jar he was using was 3 months old and it didn't smell one bit, even with my nose in it! He out fished everyone on the beach! I have seen him there twice using it and catching more than everyone else. I'm definitely going to try it myself. ]]> Mon, 25 Jul 2022 03:59:58 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=1827739&title=salting-bait#1827739 <![CDATA[Salting Bait : Cheers for the advice guys. The...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=162568&title=salting-bait#162568 Author: Kingi_Katcher
Subject: 11945
Posted: 14 Jan 2006 at 3:40pm

Cheers for the advice guys.

The salted bait did the trick and saved money big time.  New fav bait, SAMNA!!

before leaving  i bought 10L pail of salted pillies, only to find them rotten and crumbly and extremely smelly.... very annoyed. Luckily i discovered this b4 leaving for the trip, and the bait shop was kind enough to replace them.  Even these weren't of a great quality and we didn't catch one fish on those salted mutants. It was my own salted bait which got all the fish.

]]> Sat, 14 Jan 2006 15:40:57 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=162568&title=salting-bait#162568 <![CDATA[Salting Bait : I add a generous dollop of fish...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=162548&title=salting-bait#162548 Author: SNOWKIWI
Subject: 11945
Posted: 14 Jan 2006 at 1:55pm

I add  a generous dollop of fish oil after the salting stage, seems to help prevent the drying out to a degree. Also cut mine into large chunks that will fit into ice cream containers, seems easier to salt the large bits, and when the icecream containers are full, fit lids, and stack them neatly in the freezer. This is the only way "her indoors" will let me put my bait in the only chest freezer we own. "No smell"! She's happy, I'm happy and the baits keep for ages.

]]> Sat, 14 Jan 2006 13:55:02 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=162548&title=salting-bait#162548 <![CDATA[Salting Bait : I have used salted chopped up...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=158995&title=salting-bait#158995 Author: smudge
Subject: 11945
Posted: 22 Dec 2005 at 9:11pm

I have used salted chopped up barracoutta and albacore (just the scraps mind you) for bait, kept it in a bucket with fish oil. It was messy but it worked ok for gurnard and manukau pannies. I pretty much do mine the way HLD says. ]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2005 21:11:15 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945&PID=158995&title=salting-bait#158995