Mackerel baits

[between the eyes]

Before you think that I've gone daft in the head yes I do know that it's the varminting section, so read on.

I was fishing last Saturday and aside from cod, ling and pouting I caught a couple of mackerel, I saved them to use as bait for ling on the following day but the weather scupperd that plan and so I was left with two nice sized fish that hadn't been gutted and so were not fit to eat.

So last night I decided to use them for bait, this time to tempt a fox. I knew where I was heading and set up on top of an old concrete building about 5 foot high, nicely grass covered so it wasn't cold. The field that I was on was stubble and I placed the two fish 90 yards away from me in a dip, this was perfect as there are houses about and so I could ensure a good safe back stop by tempting foxy into a pre ordained section of the field.

I arrived just as dusk was taking hold and as the light faded into darkness I started to scan the field with the night vision, half an hour passed and I caught a glimpse of something moving along the opposit hedge line some 350 yards away, I watched it move along its length and then it turned and melted back into the trees, I'm sure that it was a fox but with houses behind it and their lights interfering with the nv I wasn't sure, also the mackerel were down wind so it was not going to get the scent. Another 30 minutes passed and then from my left I saw the unmistakeable silhouette of a fox, he was on the scent and I quickly fixed the nv onto the scope, looked to where I'd left my bait and he was there, I saw him sniff at them, walk around them and then as he bowed his head to pick one up I let the Howa do the rest, the report came back as I saw him drop on the spot, a perfect heart shot. He was a cracking dog fox, one of the biggest that I've ever shot, massive body bulk.

Photos

 

[223magic]

Before you think that I've gone daft in the head yes I do know that it's the varminting section, so read on.

I was fishing last Saturday and aside from cod, ling and pouting I caught a couple of mackerel, I saved them to use as bait for ling on the following day but the weather scupperd that plan and so I was left with two nice sized fish that hadn't been gutted and so were not fit to eat.

So last night I decided to use them for bait, this time to tempt a fox. I knew where I was heading and set up on top of an old concrete building about 5 foot high, nicely grass covered so it wasn't cold. The field that I was on was stubble and I placed the two fish 90 yards away from me in a dip, this was perfect as there are houses about and so I could ensure a good safe back stop by tempting foxy into a pre ordained section of the field.

I arrived just as dusk was taking hold and as the light faded into darkness I started to scan the field with the night vision, half an hour passed and I caught a glimpse of something moving along the opposit hedge line some 350 yards away, I watched it move along its length and then it turned and melted back into the trees, I'm sure that it was a fox but with houses behind it and their lights interfering with the nv I wasn't sure, also the mackerel were down wind so it was not going to get the scent. Another 30 minutes passed and then from my left I saw the unmistakeable silhouette of a fox, he was on the scent and I quickly fixed the nv onto the scope, looked to where I'd left my bait and he was there, I saw him sniff at them, walk around them and then as he bowed his head to pick one up I let the Howa do the rest, the report came back as I saw him drop on the spot, a perfect heart shot. He was a cracking dog fox, one of the biggest that I've ever shot, massive body bulk.

Photos

 

Good write up and that seems like a good fox, I have tried Mackral and it does work, but I find that Felix Fish Cat food mixed with dried dog bickeys works very well.

ATB

[between the eyes]

Good write up and that seems like a good fox, I have tried Mackral and it does work, but I find that Felix Fish Cat food mixed with dried dog bickeys works very well.

ATB

 

I've used tinned tuna before, that's good too.

[Gunsgobang88]

Hi,

 

My favorite fox bait is tinned cat food of the fishy variety, it seems to act as a fox magnet. My record is 13 out of one small South London Garden in one night,

 

Alan

[happyhunter]

Good going looks a fine fox, did nothing else show up after all had settled down? Anything fishy brings them in, especially cheap cat food left open for a day or two somewhere warm. The last time I baited an area I used cheapo dog biscuits, cheapo fishy cat food all mixed with cod liver oil (left to rippen in a bucket for a few days) and spread them over half an acre or so. The vixen and 3 cubs were practically fighting over the mix and with the bucket near me to stop any foxes coming in the back door and senting me. Sent 6 of them to the big foxy den in the sky in about 2 1/2 hrs. Only use it when they are causing a real problem though. Keep up the good work