ANCHOVIES – FROZEN SEA FISHING & PIKE BAIT
Anchovies are a small, naturally oily baitfish with a strong scent, making them useful for both sea fishing and pike deadbaiting. Their small size makes them especially useful when you want a compact bait rather than a large mackerel, herring or roach.
For sea fishing they can be used whole, as pieces, as a tipper or in a cocktail bait. For pike they provide a small oily deadbait that can be ledgered or float fished.
ANCHOVIES FOR SEA FISHING
Anchovies are particularly useful for whiting, bream, codling, bass, dogfish and general mixed-species fishing.
Their flesh is relatively soft, so they are best handled carefully. Small anchovies can be fished whole, while pieces make excellent fish tippers on worm baits.
For whiting, bream and codling, use anchovy pieces or a small whole anchovy on a 2-Hook or 3-Hook Flapper Rig.
Wrigglers Chinu Hooks are ideal for compact anchovy baits, while Wrigglers Aberdeen Hooks are particularly useful for worm baits finished with an anchovy tipper.
For bass or better cod, a larger whole anchovy or anchovy-and-squid cocktail can be fished on a Running Ledger or Pulley Rig, with a Wrigglers Chinu or Octopus Beak Hook depending on bait size.
ANCHOVY AS A TIPPER BAIT
This is one of the best uses for anchovies.
Add a small piece to:
Lugworm + Anchovy — useful for codling and whiting.
Black Lug + Anchovy — adds an oily fish scent to a substantial worm bait.
Ragworm + Anchovy — useful for bream and general mixed-species fishing.
Fish these combinations on Wrigglers Chinu or Aberdeen Hooks.
The anchovy doesn't need to dominate the bait — a small piece is enough to add extra fish scent and oil.
ANCHOVY & SQUID
For a tougher bait, combine anchovy with squid.
The anchovy provides the oily attraction while the squid gives the presentation considerably more strength and helps the softer fish survive casting.
For a smaller cocktail, use a Wrigglers Chinu Hook. For a larger single-hook presentation, use a Wrigglers Octopus Beak Hook on a Pulley Rig.
ANCHOVIES FOR PIKE
Anchovies can also be used as a small pike deadbait, particularly when you deliberately want a smaller offering.
They can be ledgered on the bottom or presented beneath a float. Their oily flesh provides plenty of scent, but because they're softer than some other deadbaits they need to be mounted carefully.
For very small anchovies, two fish can be used together to create a more substantial presentation.
Fish them using a Wrigglers Wire Pike Trace fitted with Wrigglers Barbed Treble Hooks.
Size 8 Trebles — the best starting point for small anchovies and compact deadbaits.
Size 6 Trebles — suitable for larger anchovies or two-fish presentations.
Size 4 Trebles — generally better suited to larger deadbaits; only use them where the size of the anchovy presentation warrants it.
Always use an appropriate wire trace when intentionally targeting pike, and keep the treble points exposed.
WHY USE ANCHOVIES?
For sea fishing, anchovies give you a lot of oil and scent from a small bait, making them particularly useful for smaller whole-fish presentations and as a tipper.
For pike, they provide a small oily deadbait option, useful when you want to scale the bait down rather than fishing a full-size mackerel, herring or roach.
COMPLETE YOUR SETUP WITH WRIGGLERS TACKLE
Sea Fishing:
Wrigglers Chinu Hooks • Aberdeen Hooks • Octopus Beak Hooks • 2-Hook Flapper Rigs • 3-Hook Flapper Rigs • Pulley Rigs • Power Swivels • Rig Line • Clips & Rig Components
Pike Fishing:
Wrigglers Wire Pike Traces • Barbed Treble Hooks Sizes 8, 6 & 4 • Power Swivels • Pike Rig Components
TOP TIP
Anchovies are soft and oily, so don't overwork the bait. For sea fishing, use a small piece as a tipper or combine it with squid when you need extra casting strength.
For pike, take advantage of the anchovy's small size — match the trace and trebles to the bait rather than overpowering it with unnecessarily large hooks.
SEA FISHING BAIT • PIKE DEADBAIT