FROZEN SEA FISHING BAIT & PIKE DEADBAITS DELIVERED ACROSS THE UK
WELCOME TO WRIGGLERS BAITS
Wrigglers Baits is a family-run fishing bait and terminal tackle business based in Devon, supplying anglers across the UK. We supply blast-frozen sea fishing bait, pike deadbaits and our own Wrigglers Tackle range, alongside a wider selection of fishing tackle and accessories.
FISHING BAIT GUIDE
BASS FISHING BAIT – BEST BAITS FOR UK BASS
Bass are one of the most popular species targeted by UK shore and boat anglers, and choosing the right bait can make a major difference.
At Wrigglers Baits, we supply a range of frozen sea fishing baits suitable for bass fishing, including our own Devon sandeels, squid, peeler crab, mackerel and other proven fish baits.
The best bait will depend on where you're fishing, the ground, conditions and the size of bass you're targeting.
DEVON SANDEELS
Sandeels are one of the classic natural baits for bass.
Our Devon sandeels are caught by us, packed by us and blast frozen by us, giving Wrigglers control of the bait from the sea to the freezer.
Fish a whole sandeel straight and streamlined on a Running Ledger or Pulley Rig.
For smaller presentations, try a Wrigglers Chinu Hook. For larger whole sandeels or sandeel-and-squid cocktails, a Wrigglers Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank Hook is an excellent choice.
Great for: Beaches • Estuaries • Clean ground • Boat fishing
PEELER CRAB
Peeler crab is one of the standout natural baits for bass, particularly around estuaries, harbours, rocky ground and areas where crabs naturally occur.
Our River Teign peeler crab comes from Teignmouth, Devon.
Fish smaller crab baits on a Wrigglers Chinu Hook, stepping up to an Octopus Beak Hook for larger presentations.
A Running Ledger is excellent when you want the crab bait fishing naturally close to the seabed.
Great for: Estuaries • Harbours • Rocks • Rough and mixed ground
SQUID
Squid is tough, versatile and extremely useful for bass fishing.
Fish it as a long tapered strip, use a larger section, or combine it with fish bait.
Its durability makes squid particularly useful when you need to cast hard or when softer fish baits aren't staying on the hook.
Use Wrigglers Chinu Hooks for smaller strips and Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank or Octopus Beak Hooks for larger baits.
MACKEREL
Freshly presented mackerel-style fish bait is a proven option for bass.
Cut a long tapered strip with the skin left on and hook through the tougher skin to help keep the bait secure.
Fish smaller strips on Wrigglers Chinu Hooks, or use an Octopus Beak or Takumi Hook when increasing the bait size.
A Running Ledger or Pulley Rig makes a good bass setup.
SANDEEL & SQUID
This is one of our favourite bass combinations.
Fish a whole sandeel with a strip of squid, keeping the finished bait long and streamlined.
The sandeel provides the natural baitfish profile while the squid adds toughness and helps support the bait during casting.
Try it on a Wrigglers Pulley or Pulley Pennel Rig with a Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank Hook.
OTHER BAITS FOR BASS
Don't overlook sardines, blueys, herring, sprats, anchovies, razor clam and lugworm.
Smaller fish baits and worm baits can be particularly useful when the bass are feeding on smaller natural food, while larger fish baits can be used when specifically targeting better fish.
BEST WRIGGLERS HOOKS FOR BASS
Chinu Hooks — smaller fish baits, crab, sandeel and worm presentations.
Aberdeen Hooks — worm baits and long narrow strips.
Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank Hooks — whole sandeels, squid strips and larger fish baits.
Octopus Beak Hooks — larger crab, squid and fish-bait presentations.
Match the hook to the bait size and presentation, rather than simply using the biggest hook possible.
BEST RIGS FOR BASS
Running Ledger — excellent for presenting sandeel, crab, squid and fish baits naturally.
Pulley Rig — good all-round choice when fishing larger single baits.
Pulley Pennel — useful for longer sandeel, squid and fish-bait presentations.
2-Hook Flapper — useful when searching for bass with smaller baits alongside other species.
BASS BAIT COCKTAILS
Sandeel + Squid — one of our top combinations for bass.
Peeler Crab + Lugworm — excellent natural combination for estuary and shore fishing.
Mackerel + Squid — fish scent with the extra toughness of squid.
Lugworm + Squid — a useful combination when you want a tougher worm presentation.
WRIGGLERS TOP TIP
Don't automatically make a bass bait enormous.
A neat, streamlined bait matched to the hook and conditions can be far more effective than a large lump of bait.
Keep the hook point and gape clear and present natural fish baits in a shape that will fish properly once they're in the water.
SHOP BASS FISHING BAIT
Devon Sandeels • Peeler Crab • Squid • Mackerel • Sardines • Blueys • Herring • Sprats • Razor Clam • Lugworm
DEVON SANDEELS • RIVER TEIGN PEELER CRAB • SQUID • FISH BAITS • WRIGGLERS TERMINAL TACKLE
#GetAWriggleOn
RAY FISHING BAIT – BEST BAITS FOR UK RAYS
Rays are powerful bottom-feeding fish, and the right bait needs to provide plenty of scent while remaining securely presented on the seabed.
At Wrigglers Baits, we supply a range of frozen sea fishing baits ideal for ray fishing, including our own Devon sandeels, squid, blueys, mackerel, herring, sardines and other proven fish baits.
For most ray fishing, a good-sized fish bait or fish-and-squid cocktail presented on a longer snood is an excellent starting point.
DEVON SANDEELS
Sandeels are one of the classic natural baits for rays.
Our Devon sandeels are caught by us, packed by us and blast frozen by us, giving Wrigglers control of the bait from the sea to the freezer.
Fish a large whole sandeel, two sandeels together, or combine sandeel with squid to produce a more substantial bait.
A Pulley Pennel or Up & Over Rig works particularly well.
Use a Wrigglers Octopus Beak Hook for a conventional presentation, or a Wrigglers Mutsu Circle / True Circle Hook when specifically fishing a circle-hook setup.
BLUEYS
Blueys — Pacific saury — are an excellent oily fish bait for rays.
Their rich flesh releases plenty of scent and can be presented as fillets, strips, chunks or larger sections.
For a larger ray bait, combine bluey with squid. The squid helps support the softer fish bait and gives the finished presentation more durability.
Fish on a Pulley Pennel or Up & Over Rig with Wrigglers Octopus Beak, Mutsu Circle or True Circle Hooks.
SQUID
Squid is one of the most useful ray baits because of its tough, durable flesh.
Fish a substantial strip or section on its own, or use squid to strengthen a softer fish bait.
It's particularly useful when fishing at distance because it can withstand harder casting better than many softer baits.
Try squid with sandeel, bluey, mackerel or sardine.
MACKEREL
Mackerel is a classic oily fish bait for rays.
Use a large skin-on fillet, strip or section, leaving the skin attached to help keep the bait secure.
For a stronger cocktail, add a strip of squid and bind the bait neatly with bait elastic.
A Pulley Pennel or Up & Over Rig with a Wrigglers Octopus Beak, Mutsu Circle or True Circle Hook makes a strong ray setup.
HERRING
Herring is another oily bait that can be extremely effective for rays.
Fish a large flank, fillet or section, keeping the skin on where possible.
Herring can be fished alone or combined with squid when extra bait durability is required.
It's particularly suited to Pulley Pennel and Up & Over presentations.
SARDINES
Sardines are soft, oily and highly scented.
Because they're softer than baits such as squid, secure them carefully with bait elastic.
For ray fishing, one of the best ways to use sardine is with squid. The sardine supplies the oils and scent while the squid helps hold the presentation together.
DOGFISH
Dogfish is a completely different style of ray bait.
Its tough skin and durable flesh make it suitable for substantial bottom baits, particularly when targeting larger rays and common skate.
Dogfish can be fished in strips or larger sections and combined with squid.
For genuinely big baits and heavy fishing, Wrigglers Stainless O'Shaughnessy 10/0 and 12/0 Hooks are available.
Wrigglers Dogfish and English Squid, fished on an Up & Over Rig with a Wrigglers Stainless O'Shaughnessy 12/0 and Size 1 Power Swivel, has already accounted for a 186 lb common skate in Scotland.
BEST WRIGGLERS HOOKS FOR RAYS
Octopus Beak Hooks — excellent all-round choice for substantial fish and squid baits.
Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank Hooks — useful for longer fish and squid presentations.
Mutsu Circle Hooks — suited to anglers specifically using circle-hook setups for larger bottom baits.
True Circle Hooks — another option for dedicated circle-hook presentations.
Stainless O'Shaughnessy 10/0 & 12/0 — for genuinely heavy baits and big-fish fishing such as common skate.
Match the hook to the bait and target species rather than automatically choosing the largest hook.
BEST RIGS FOR RAYS
Up & Over Rig — excellent for a longer snood and substantial bottom bait.
Pulley Pennel — ideal for long fish baits and fish-and-squid cocktails.
Pulley Rig — a good option for a single substantial bait.
Running Ledger — simple and effective where a more natural bottom presentation is wanted.
BEST RAY BAIT COCKTAILS
Sandeel + Squid — one of our favourite ray combinations.
Bluey + Squid — rich oily fish bait with the additional toughness of squid.
Mackerel + Squid — classic fish-and-squid combination.
Sardine + Squid — strong scent from the sardine with squid supporting the softer bait.
Dogfish + Squid — a tough, substantial bait for bigger ray and skate fishing.
WRIGGLERS TOP TIP
For rays, bigger isn't automatically better.
Build a bait that's large enough to provide scent and attraction but still presents properly. Keep it streamlined enough to cast, secure softer baits with bait elastic and always leave the hook point and gape completely clear.
SHOP RAY FISHING BAIT
Devon Sandeels • Blueys • Squid • Mackerel • Herring • Sardines • Dogfish
Frozen Sea Fishing Bait Delivered Across the UK
DEVON SANDEELS • SQUID • OILY FISH BAITS • RAY & SKATE BAITS • WRIGGLERS TERMINAL TACKLE
#GetAWriggleOn
SMOOTHHOUND FISHING BAIT – BEST BAITS FOR UK SMOOTHHOUNDS
Smoothhounds are powerful summer sea fish and are particularly associated with feeding on crabs and other crustaceans. For anglers targeting them from UK beaches, estuaries and boats, crab is usually the first bait to reach for.
At Wrigglers Baits, our River Teign peeler crab gives smoothhound anglers a natural Devon crab bait, alongside other options for different conditions and presentations.
RIVER TEIGN PEELER CRAB
Peeler crab is our first-choice smoothhound bait.
Our peeler crabs come from the River Teign at Teignmouth, Devon, giving Wrigglers a locally sourced natural bait for one of the UK's hardest-fighting shore species.
A whole smaller peeler can make an excellent bait. Larger crabs can be divided into suitable sections.
Remove the shell where required, form the crab neatly around the hook and secure it with bait elastic.
Don't turn it into a large ball. A compact crab bait with the hook point and gape completely exposed gives a much better presentation.
A Wrigglers Chinu Hook works particularly well for neat crab baits, while a Wrigglers Octopus Beak Hook is a strong choice when stepping up the size of the bait.
PEELER CRAB LEGS & CLAWS
Crab legs and claws can also make an effective smoothhound bait.
Use several pieces together to create a compact bait and secure them with bait elastic.
They can be fished alone or combined with peeler body meat to produce a larger crab presentation.
This is a useful way of varying the size of your bait without simply putting a huge whole crab on the hook.
BEST WRIGGLERS HOOKS FOR SMOOTHHOUNDS
Chinu Hooks — one of our top choices for compact peeler crab presentations.
Octopus Beak Hooks — excellent when using larger crab baits or when specifically targeting better smoothhounds.
Mutsu Circle Hooks — an option for anglers who prefer a circle-hook setup.
True Circle Hooks — suited to dedicated circle-hook presentations where the bait is mounted without obstructing the hook gape.
Whatever pattern you choose, make sure the crab doesn't mask the hook point or fill the gape.
BEST RIGS FOR SMOOTHHOUNDS
Pulley Rig — an excellent all-round choice for fishing a single crab bait from the shore.
Running Ledger — simple and effective where you want a natural bottom presentation.
Pulley Pennel — useful when fishing a larger crab presentation or cocktail.
Up & Over Rig — useful when a longer snood and larger bottom bait are required.
PEELER CRAB + LUGWORM
Peeler crab can also be combined with lugworm or black lug.
Use the worm to create the main bait and add peeler crab as part of the presentation, or build a predominantly crab bait with a smaller amount of worm.
This gives you a cocktail capable of attracting smoothhounds while also giving you a chance of bass and other species.
WHERE TO FISH PEELER CRAB FOR SMOOTHHOUNDS
Peeler crab can be particularly effective from beaches, estuaries, mixed ground and areas where crabs form part of the natural food supply.
Smoothhounds can fight extremely hard, so the rest of the rig needs to be matched to the conditions and size of fish you're likely to encounter.
Wrigglers Power Swivels, rig line, clips and rig components can be used to build strong smoothhound rigs.
WRIGGLERS TOP TIP
With smoothhounds, don't overcomplicate the bait.
A fresh-looking, compact peeler crab presentation on the right-sized hook is difficult to beat.
Use enough bait elastic to secure the crab, but don't bind it into a solid lump. Keep the hook point and gape completely clear.
SHOP SMOOTHHOUND FISHING BAIT
River Teign Peeler Crab • Peeler Crab Legs & Claws • Lugworm • Black Lug
Frozen Sea Fishing Bait Delivered Across the UK
RIVER TEIGN PEELER CRAB • DEVON BAIT • WRIGGLERS HOOKS • RIGS • TERMINAL TACKLE
#GetAWriggleOn
COMMON SKATE FISHING BAIT – BEST BAITS FOR UK COMMON SKATE
Common skate are among the largest and most powerful fish encountered by UK sea anglers. When specifically targeting them, bait needs to provide a strong scent trail, stay securely on the hook and be substantial enough to interest a very large bottom-feeding fish.
At Wrigglers Baits, we supply tough fish baits, oily baits and squid that can be used individually or combined to make substantial skate baits.
Our top choices include dogfish, squid, mackerel, blueys and herring.
DOGFISH
Dogfish is one of our top choices for common skate.
Its tough skin and durable flesh make it particularly useful when building the large baits commonly used for skate fishing.
Cut dogfish into a substantial strip or section and hook it securely through the tougher skin.
It can be fished alone, but dogfish and squid makes an excellent heavy-duty combination.
For genuinely large skate baits, our Wrigglers Stainless O'Shaughnessy 10/0 and 12/0 Hooks are designed for heavy sea-fishing applications.
DOGFISH + SQUID
This is a proven Wrigglers combination.
Dogfish provides a tough, substantial fish bait, while squid adds another layer of scent and durable flesh.
Build the bait so it remains streamlined rather than simply creating a huge lump. Secure it with bait elastic while keeping the hook point and gape completely clear.
A Wrigglers Up & Over Rig is an excellent way of presenting this type of bait.
And this combination has already produced a serious result:
186 LB COMMON SKATE
Caught in Scotland by Kieran White of Source2Coast-Angling, using:
Wrigglers Dogfish + English Squid
Wrigglers Stainless O'Shaughnessy 12/0
Wrigglers Up & Over Rig
Wrigglers Power Swivel Size 1 – 185 kg / 408 lb
That's a real example of the bait and terminal tackle being used for the job.
MACKEREL
Mackerel is a classic oily bait for skate fishing.
Use large fillets, flappers or substantial sections, keeping the skin attached to help hold everything together.
Mackerel can be fished alone or combined with squid when extra durability is required.
For a large skate presentation, use appropriately heavy terminal tackle and match the hook size to the finished bait.
BLUEYS
Blueys — Pacific saury — provide rich, oily flesh and a strong scent trail.
For common skate, use a large fillet, multiple strips or a substantial section.
Bluey and squid is another excellent combination. The bluey provides oil and scent while the tougher squid helps support the finished bait.
HERRING
Herring is another oily fish bait well suited to larger bottom-fishing presentations.
Use a large flank, fillet or section, keeping the skin attached wherever possible.
Herring can also be combined with squid to make a tougher bait for heavy fishing.
SQUID
Squid is extremely useful for common skate because its firm, durable flesh stays on the hook well.
Use substantial strips or sections on their own, or combine squid with fish bait.
Good combinations include:
Dogfish + Squid
Mackerel + Squid
Bluey + Squid
Herring + Squid
BEST WRIGGLERS HOOKS FOR COMMON SKATE
For the substantial baits used when specifically targeting common skate, our standout heavy-duty options are:
Wrigglers Stainless O'Shaughnessy 10/0
Wrigglers Stainless O'Shaughnessy 12/0
The 12/0 has already accounted for a 186 lb common skate when fished with Wrigglers Dogfish and English Squid.
Hook size should always be matched to the bait. Whatever size you use, make sure the point and gape remain completely clear.
RIGS FOR COMMON SKATE
Up & Over Rig — excellent for presenting a substantial bait on a longer snood.
Pulley Pennel — useful for longer fish baits and fish-and-squid combinations where the tackle and components are appropriately rated.
For heavy skate fishing, the entire system matters — hook, line, swivels, clips, knots and every connection need to be suitable for the loads involved.
WRIGGLERS POWER SWIVELS
Heavy fishing requires dependable terminal tackle.
Our Wrigglers Power Swivels are available in a range of breaking strains, including heavy-duty versions for demanding sea-fishing applications.
The Wrigglers Size 1 Power Swivel rated to 185 kg / 408 lb formed part of the setup used to land the 186 lb common skate.
WRIGGLERS TOP TIP
With common skate, don't judge the bait simply by how big it looks.
Build a strong, streamlined bait with plenty of scent, secure it properly and make sure the hook is able to work.
A large bait with the hook point buried inside it is a poor presentation regardless of its size.
SHOP COMMON SKATE BAIT
Dogfish • English Squid • Mackerel • Blueys • Herring
WRIGGLERS COMMON SKATE TACKLE
Stainless O'Shaughnessy 10/0 & 12/0 Hooks • Heavy-Duty Power Swivels • Up & Over Rigs • Pulley Pennels • Heavy Rig Line • Clips & Rig Components
DOGFISH • SQUID • OILY FISH BAITS • HEAVY-DUTY TERMINAL TACKLE
#GetAWriggleOn
PIKE DEADBAITS – BEST FROZEN DEADBAITS FOR UK PIKE FISHING
Deadbaiting is one of the most effective ways of targeting pike, particularly through the colder months when a well-presented natural fish bait can produce excellent results.
At Wrigglers Baits, we supply a wide selection of frozen pike deadbaits, including roach, smelt, mackerel, herring, sardines, sprats, capelin, anchovies, red mullet, garfish and salmon parr.
Different deadbaits offer different combinations of size, scent, oil content, toughness and natural appearance, giving anglers plenty of options when pike become selective.
ROACH
Roach is one of the classic freshwater pike deadbaits.
Its natural shape, firm body and tough skin make it ideal for fishing whole on the bottom, float-ledgered or suspended beneath a float.
Roach is particularly useful when you want to present pike with a familiar-looking freshwater prey fish.
Best for: Bottom fishing • Float fishing • Natural presentations
SMELT
Smelt is one of the most popular smaller pike deadbaits.
Its slim silver body and distinctive scent make it an excellent choice when pike are feeding on smaller prey.
Fish smelt whole on the bottom or beneath a float.
Because of its smaller size, a Wrigglers Barbed Treble size 8 is an excellent starting point, stepping up to a size 6 for larger smelt or different presentations.
Best for: Smaller deadbaits • Clear water • Natural presentations
MACKEREL
Mackerel is a classic oily sea deadbait for pike.
Its high oil content and strong scent make it particularly useful when you want a bait capable of creating plenty of attraction.
Fish it whole, halved or in sections, depending on the size of the bait and pike being targeted.
Mackerel is excellent for bottom fishing and float-ledgering.
HERRING
Herring provides another highly effective oily deadbait.
Its silver skin, natural fish shape and oily flesh make it an excellent alternative to mackerel.
Fish smaller herring whole or use sections from larger fish.
Herring is a strong option when you want plenty of scent in the water without relying on the same deadbait every session.
SARDINES
Sardines are soft, oily and highly scented.
They can be extremely effective when pike are responding to scent, but their softer flesh means they need to be mounted carefully.
Use bait elastic where necessary to help secure the bait without completely crushing it.
They're particularly useful as a bottom deadbait where maximum casting distance isn't required.
SPRATS
Sprats make excellent small pike deadbaits.
Their compact size makes them useful when pike are feeding on smaller prey or when a large deadbait isn't producing.
Fish a sprat whole and keep the terminal tackle proportionate to the bait.
A Wrigglers Barbed Treble size 8 is particularly suited to smaller sprat presentations.
CAPELIN
Capelin provides another useful small whole-fish deadbait.
Its compact natural baitfish profile gives pike something different from the more commonly used mackerel and herring.
Fish it whole on the bottom or beneath a float.
ANCHOVIES
Anchovies are small, oily and strongly scented.
They're softer than some other deadbaits, so careful hook placement is important.
They're particularly useful when you want a small scent-heavy bait rather than a large whole fish.
RED MULLET
Red mullet gives pike anglers an alternative fish deadbait with plenty of natural scent.
Fish it whole where the size allows, or use sections from larger fish.
It's a useful bait to rotate with more traditional pike deadbaits when you want to show pressured fish something different.
GARFISH
Garfish has firm flesh and tough silver skin, making it a useful deadbait where durability is important.
It can be fished whole or in sections depending on its size.
The tougher skin also helps with secure hook placement.
SALMON PARR
Salmon parr provide a firm, natural-shaped fish bait with tough skin.
Fish whole where appropriate or use sections from larger baits.
Its natural baitfish profile makes it another useful alternative to the traditional oily sea deadbaits.
WRIGGLERS PIKE TRACES & TREBLE HOOKS
Always use a proper wire trace when pike fishing.
Pike have extremely sharp teeth and should never be intentionally targeted using an ordinary mono or fluorocarbon hooklength in place of suitable wire.
Wrigglers pike tackle includes:
Wrigglers Wire Pike Traces
Wrigglers Barbed Treble Hooks – Sizes 8, 6 & 4
As a simple guide:
Size 8 — smaller deadbaits such as smelt and sprats.
Size 6 — excellent general-purpose size for medium deadbaits.
Size 4 — larger whole deadbaits and substantial presentations.
The final hook size should be matched to the actual bait size and rig, with the hook points remaining completely exposed.
DEADBAIT PRESENTATIONS
Bottom Deadbaiting — simple and effective for fishing a deadbait on or close to the lake or river bed.
Float Ledgering — allows the bait to remain on the bottom while the float provides clear bite indication.
Suspended Deadbaiting — useful when you want to present the bait above the bottom.
Popped-Up Deadbaiting — can help keep a bait visible above weed, debris or soft bottom where appropriate.
WHICH PIKE DEADBAIT SHOULD I CHOOSE?
For a natural freshwater prey fish, start with roach.
For a small, highly effective deadbait, try smelt.
For oil and scent, try mackerel or herring.
For a small oily bait, try sprats, capelin or anchovies.
For something different, try red mullet, garfish or salmon parr.
Pike can change their preferences, so carrying several different deadbaits gives you the option to change size, species and scent during the session.
WRIGGLERS TOP TIP
Don't automatically reach for the biggest deadbait in the bag.
A smaller smelt, sprat or section of fish can sometimes outperform a much larger bait.
Match the hooks to the bait, keep the treble points exposed and always use a suitable wire trace.
SHOP PIKE DEADBAITS
Roach • Smelt • Mackerel • Herring • Sardines • Sprats • Capelin • Anchovies • Red Mullet • Garfish • Salmon Parr
WRIGGLERS BAITS
Frozen Pike Baits Delivered Across the UK
FROZEN DEADBAITS • WIRE PIKE TRACES • BARBED TREBLE HOOKS
#GetAWriggleOn