Fishing experiments with an alternative longline bait based on nylon bags

This report describes two fishing trials using an alternative longline bait, one in the fishery for torsk and ling, the other in the fishery for cod and haddock. A bait based on fine-meshed nylon bags as reinforcement and minced raw materials as feeding stimulants was tested. Possible negative effects on the catch rate caused by the nylon bag or the metal clip that closes the bag were investigated. The nylon bag caused a negative effect on the catch rate, while the clip showed no effect. Adding different types of binders to the bait showed that the binder affects the catchability. Redusing the bait loss from the bags without binding the stimulants too hard proved to be an important property of the binder. Compared with natural bait, nylon bags containing minced herring gave higher catch rates for torsk, ling and haddock, but lower catch rate for cod