Large mullets should be scaled, and then filleted. Photo by Joe Malat

Outer Banks surf fishermen often use a variety of natural baits to catch fish, but the bait choices, and how to prepare them can be confusing. Let’s have a quick look at some of the most popular natural baits, and a few tips on how to prepare them.

Bloodworms are nasty looking critters, but they do catch fish. These saltwater marsh worms are harvested along the coasts of New England and Canada, and then distributed to bait and tackle shops along the coast.

Bloodworms are sold alive and will stay alive for several days if kept cold and away from fresh water. They are an excellent bait for smaller “bottom fish” such as spot, croakers, and sea mullet. These fish have small mouths, so the worms should be cut into inch long pieces and laced onto small, light wire hooks.

The relatively new “Bag O’ Worms” synthetic baits have become an effective alternative to the real thing. These artificial baits need no refrigeration and can be used just like real worms. I always keep a bag of them in my tackle box.

Squid can be prepared in a variety of different ways, will appeal to several species of fish and is typically sold frozen. When you buy it, the best bait squid should appear white, not brown or pink.

Thaw a whole squid, and lay it flat on your cutting board. Cut off the head and tentacles, then cut the squid lengthwise down its body and scrape out the insides. Flip the squid over, and scrape off the outside skin.

Finally, cut the white, firm piece of squid meat into strips or chunks. Squid strips are excellent bait for flounder and gray trout, but just about any fish will eat squid. Leftover squid may be re-frozen. Locals refer to any kind of cut up fish as "cut bait." Cut fish is an excellent bait for bluefish and drum. The most popular cut bait along the Outer Banks is mullet, an oily fish with very tough skin. Also known as "jumping mullet," they shouldn't be confused with sea mullet, a completely different species that is an excellent table fish.

Fresh mullet chunks and fireball rigs are a deadly combination for bluefish. Photo by Joe Malat

Mullet fillets can be cut into strips or chunks to fit the target species and the size hook. Photo by Joe Malat

Mullet range in size from small finger mullet to big boys that may weigh two or three pounds. Most tackle shops will sell fresh mullet when available. Any other fresh fish such as herring or menhaden are a good second choice for cut bait. Frozen mullet is a third option, but only use it as a last resort when fresh fish is not available.

Mullet can be filleted, then cut into strips to fit the hook size. Small mullet can be vertically cut into “steaks.” Whenever I use mullet or any other fish for bait, if I am going to cut the bait in chunks or strips, I scale it. This doesn't make any difference to the fish that might eat the bait, but it is easier to put a hook through the skin.

Shrimp is excellent bait for surfcasters, boaters, and pier fishermen, especially during the warm water months of June through September. I use shrimp in the surf primarily in the late spring, summer and early fall when I'm targeting pompano or sea mullet. Shrimp also works well croakers and spot, and a bucktail or lead head jig can be "tipped” with a bit of fresh shrimp to add some smell to the lures. Frozen shrimp will not stay on the hook very well, and I do not recommend it.

Mole crabs, commonly known as sand fleas, are at the low budget end of the bait menu. These small, bug?like crustaceans live in the damp sand along the ocean beach between the low and high tide marks. They usually start to appear in June, and are available during the warmest months of the year, into the early fall. Tackle shops don't sell them, but anglers can dig them by hand, or capture them with specially made wire mesh scoops.

Sand fleas are a prime bait for pompano, and pompano pros prefer to use the soft shell sand fleas. The first time someone told me about using soft shell sand fleas for bait, I thought they were leading me on the proverbial snipe hunt, but I soon realized the advice was right on target.

As mole crabs grow they shed their hard shells, and the new and slightly larger shell remains soft for a few hours. I have also caught sea mullet, flounder, puppy drum, croakers, and speckled trout on them.

Sand fleas may stay alive for several hours if kept in a bucket of cool, damp sand. Don’t put them in a bucket of water. Insert the hook from the underside of their shell, where the legs are, and run the hook completely through the top shell.

The major appeal of natural bait is the smell and the appearance of the offering. Fresh bait will stay fresh if it is kept cold, and out of the sun. Check your baits frequently and change them when they become old, washed out and lose their scent. Remember, fresh baits catch fish!