Experimented/experimenting a great deal as I blank so often and need an edge! If the carp brigade swear by 'additives' then why should sea fish be any different. We're talking about 'attractants'. The sea shore is a BIG place (oh for a BIG PLAICE!) and so, I think, there is a need to set up a scent trail for fish to find and swim along. When even 'little boys' dogs' are catching, i.e. there's a big shoal in all competing (a feeding frenzy?) then it doesn't seem to matter much what bait we use does it! However when times are hard and you are contemplating selling the tackle and taking up golf then you have to think a little bit (in my opinion)
The Fish and Strips series seems to catch (even on their own!) I find the newish Worm one best AND IT DISSOLVES QUICKEST! (Is this a clue I ask myself? Sad I know but I seem to talk to myself a lot when fishing!) I'm using a mixture of Sardine oil and Ultrabite at the moment sometimes mixed with sea crustacean groundbait in a feeder (also in PVA bags!) They all work really well ..... as long as you don't mind attracting Dogfish - I seem to be able to bring them on the feed at will. I start fishing without then switch, and bang they are there!
One contributor from Mid-Wales considers that most groundbaits attract Doggies (lovely things) and won't use it for that reason. So far (6 months) that's my experience anyway. There was a Total Sea Fishing article about Fish'n'Strips down on the beach in Lowestoft. Tackle Exchange (one of those great Tackle shops, use it if your there!) took on the magazine JUST using the artificial, and beat the 'real' stuff!
Mind you the ultimate accolade will be when the Match boys start using it, ...... OPENLY that is!!!!!!!