Some tips on Buying Bait

[glengormley-gavin]

Just a wee note to help out those finding it difficult to get bait for fishing trips.

Ragworm
You can pre-book ragworm from either Tight Lines (Albertbridge Road, Belfast), phone in your booking before Thursday lunch for a Friday pick up or Belfast Angling Supplies (Shore Road), phone in your booking before Weds lunch for Friday pick up.
Angling Supplies (Larne, 3 doors up from The Baillie Pub), has ragworm every weekend - no need to book
Glenarm Boats (beside mini r/bout), has ragworm most weekends
O'Neill Country Sports (Cushendall, 3 doors below Petrol Station), has ragworm most weekends - no need to book

Fish and Shellfish
Most tackle shops offer an array of blast frozen baits but I find it cheaper and easier to buy from the fresh fish counter at Tesco (Newtownabbey is particularly good). Squid, mackerel, herring, prawns etc all available from 0700 to 1900 every day.

Frozen Baits
As mentioned above, most tackle shops offer frozen baits such as squid, mackerel, sandeels, razorfish etc but they can be expensive..

Failing that you can plan to go out and dig for worms around Belfast Lough but for those of us who find it hard to get the time to do this, stick with buying it if you can.

Tight Lines!!!

GG

[arvanduin]

The Tesco you mentioned has really good fish, probably the best of any supermarket in the North.

A really good location for the freshest squid, mackerel mussels and prawns that you´ll find in Belfast is St. George´s Market in the city centre. The fish market there is on Friday mornings (approx. 6.15am to midday). It's very convenient and has cheaper and fresher produce than the supermarkets, as well as having a wide range of fish. I go down before work with a cooler box and stock up before a Friday evening or weekend session.

Parking around the market is not great (that is if you want to avoid the high rise carparks that are expensive). Get there before 7.30am to avoid the rush hour traffic and to get a parking space (side streets fill up from 7.30am onwards). The market is not too far from Central train Station and Laganside bus centre, so hopping on train or a bus would be an option if you live outside Belfast and don't want to get caught up in traffic.