Ragworm

Ragworm

Undamaged ragworm can be kept, wrapped in dry newspaper, for more than a week in the fridge. It is widely available, and since the introduction of artificially bred ragworm from Northumberland based Seabait there is little problem getting supplies.

If you want to try digging your own then the best areas tend to be in estuaries amongst the mud and rocks. Rag can grow to 2 foot or more and can give the angler a nasty nip with it pincers. Rag is at its best when bright red in colour. At breeding time the worm turns to a greenish colour and exudes a green milky liquid when broken. At this point they seem to be less attractive to fish as a bait. Ragworm can be used for most species.

White Ragworm (Silvers, Wrigglies)
A very popular bait in the North East, although becoming very hard to find. The white rag, or silver, is a member of the ragworm family. As its name suggests it is a yellowish white colour. It exudes a black liquid when broken. White rag can be up to 9" in length and can be kept for several weeks in fresh sea water, provided they are checked daily. It's my experience that white rag tends to be more effective when tipping off other baits rather than as a bait on its own. Can make the difference between catching fish and blanking.