How to catch beach worms: Beachworms are scavengers that feed on dead fish, birds, molluscs, and other invertebrates and are also known to consume seaweed. The worms are a common source of food for fish and birds. Beachworms are collected for bait by recreational and commercial fishers. Beachworms are widely distributed along the eastern and south-eastern coasts of Australia. They are commonly found from Yeppoon in Queensland to Noarlunga in South Australia. There are 2 types of beach worms, pink heads and green heads. Pink heads are really long and skinny, whereas green heads are shorter and thicker.
How to catch beach worms in 10 Steps.
1. Use a strong smelling stinkbait like pilchards or red fleshed fish like mullet or tailor fish frames in a bag on a rope.
2. Use a firm finger bait, like a pippie or mullet flesh.
3. Wave the stink bag too and fro at the very top of the wave’s reach of the flats or sand spit
4. Look for a V in the water as the wave recedes as evidence of an inquisitive worm head
5. Approach the worm by treading lightly and offer it the hand bait about 1cm in front of its head
6. Let the worm latch onto the hand bait.
7. Starting approximately 4cm back from the worm...dig your thumb and first finger together into the sand on an angle to reach about 2-3cm deep.
8. Slowly open up your fingers as you drive them slowly parallel either side of the worm head making sure you go well past it.
9. Wait for the 2nd lunge of the worm ("arching its back") to grab your bait then firmly squeeze the worm between your thumb and the line on your index finger joint...squeeze any further up and the worm will slip and escape.
10. Slowly pull the worm up with constant pressure.