Anybody ever use goldfish for bait?

pleasant1911 · Jun 12, 2019

Has anybody used little feeder fish you can buy at petsmart/petco as bait? Is it legal? Would it work? Not talking about bay or ocean, but at the local fresh water fishing spots.

Just wondering?

PJDiesel · Jun 12, 2019

I'm offended. (just kidding).

I'd be cautious about possibly introducing foreign species into tidal waters, might be a hefty fine if you were caught. What are you fishing for? canned corn, bread, worms, etc usually does the trick depending on species.

Ryan 5275 · Jun 12, 2019

Yes you can't use that in any lakes I know of because it is an invasive species

Squaregrouper · Jun 12, 2019

They are considered invasive and illegal to use as live bait.

welder516 · Jun 12, 2019

We caught tad-poles and such for bait .

pleasant1911 · Jun 12, 2019

Thx. I did not think so. I was just wondering bc my brother gave me his old reel and it had the bait runner switch in the back. I ll just try to catch bluegills or tadpoles if available

pleasant1911 · Jun 12, 2019

PJDiesel said:
I'm offended. (just kidding).

I'd be cautious about possibly introducing foreign species into tidal waters, might be a hefty fine if you were caught. What are you fishing for? canned corn, bread, worms, etc usually does the trick depending on species.

Bass, cat fish. Basically any fish that will take the bait. Usually I do most of the casting and my kids do all the reeling. You guys know how it is when fishing with the little ones

mdunphyjr · Jun 12, 2019

Pretty sure it's illegal to use them for bait

PJDiesel · Jun 12, 2019

Earthworms. Laying out some compost, something to bring them up close to the top helps. Easy to pick up and makes for another step in the process that the kids can be a part of.

hooligan82 · Jun 12, 2019

You could use night crawlers to catch small panfish and use them for larger fish.

We were catching minnows last week and using them to catch catfish. We found out that chunks of hotdogs are a lot more effective though.

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Doctor_M · Jun 12, 2019

PJDiesel said:
Earthworms. Laying out some compost, something to bring them up close to the top helps. Easy to pick up and makes for another step in the process that the kids can be a part of.

If you crush up the green hulls from black walnuts and let them steep in water for a few mins, you can pour that water on any patch of dirt and the earth worms will come to the surface like they are on fire. You will need to rinse them off in a little bit of fresh water (or they will die), but this trick has saved me much time in looking for bait.

lowoncash · Jun 12, 2019

I use a minnow trap baited with bread. I put it in the weeds along the bank and usually have all the minnows I need.

bigdv · Jun 12, 2019

lowoncash said:
I use a minnow trap baited with bread. I put it in the weeds along the bank and usually have all the minnows I need.

This

WildWeasel · Jun 13, 2019

hooligan82 said:
You could use night crawlers to catch small panfish and use them for larger fish.

We were catching minnows last week and using them to catch catfish. We found out that chunks of hotdogs are a lot more effective though.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

^Basically the stinkier the better for catfish. Hotdogs are great though because not only can you nibble them too but your hands won't smell like a dumpster, as many cat baits do...

Worms or crawlers, as others have mentioned, work well for bass.

Good luck!

Engine4 · Jun 13, 2019

Check out this guy's Youtube channel. Besides the good looking assistants he has in every video, he shows his trot lines, limb lines, & catches. One of the baits he uses are goldfish.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm8MxSrHMj2plAJjDe02bUg/videos

303_enfield · Jun 13, 2019

You can use them as bait, flounder love them. Now, DNR will write you a nice ticket if you are caught using them in fresh water. Been checked by DNR on Assawoman using goldfish when I couldn't find bull minnows. As with everything check the reg where your fishing first.

The main problem using them is they have weak lips. Cast with it lip hooked an the fish flies off in the other direction. Back hook or tail hook them. They won't last long in salt water.

Glaron · Jun 13, 2019

well.

I hear dressing in a Clown costume...
Gold fish and candy is a good balance for bait.
:eek:

gizzard · Jun 13, 2019

Doctor_M said:
If you crush up the green hulls from black walnuts and let them steep in water for a few mins, you can pour that water on any patch of dirt and the earth worms will come to the surface like they are on fire. You will need to rinse them off in a little bit of fresh water (or they will die), but this trick has saved me much time in looking for bait.

i have done this. people look at me like i am insane when i say this.
i have also used an electric wormer

Blacksmith101 · Jun 13, 2019

Gold bling works better on females.

ted76 · Jun 13, 2019

The Potomac river around Brunswick already has a breeding population in it, don't use them as bait or release them into any body of water.
It is ilegal as others have said.

Anybody ever use goldfish for bait?

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