Herring for bait?

[R E G I C Y C L E]

I was at the local tonight with the fly rod, pulling in freshwater herring hand over fist, when the thought occurred... would these be any good for bait in saltwater?

Not sure if any raiders have tried this and if so, was it successful?

I don't know the scientific name for herring so a photo below so everyone knows what I'm talking about (albeit a very small model!)

[slothparade]

Yeah they work well, bream, flathead, Jewfish, shark, ect. 

[dirvin21]

They work well

Really good eel bait in freshwater too 

[R E G I C Y C L E]

Thanks guys, sounds like I might have to give it a try. Would you salt them like pilchards?

Edited January 8, 2023 by R E G I C Y C L E

[Rebel]

I would put them in salt.

Cheers.

[Pickles]

Hey Regan, yep they work a treat, but the one you have in the pic is a small freshwater herring (there are heaps and heaps of these in the Colo at present).  The ones I usually use are the larger flat bodied saltwater herring - these are great on jewfish and flathead and stay alive just as long as Yakkas and readily take bait jigs.

[R E G I C Y C L E]

Thanks folks. I'll try salting a few and see how I go next time I fish saltwater. If it works it's very easy bait and will cost me virtually nothing.