Howzit guys!
Bloodworm is a damn fine bait,no doubt about that!
What follows is my own experience regarding this bait.Most of what I know I got from such stalwarts as Vincent Taylor,one of the oumanne of SA shore angling.
I very rarely pump my worm these days.I use the wire method and within a very short space of time I've got my quota of 5 worms.This method is far less exhausting than standing in the surf for hours pumping blind.The beaches of Sunrise circle and Macassar always have healthy colonies of worm.Needless to say,low tide is your best bet.
Identifying the holes takes a bit of practice as does the feeding in of the wire,but once you've got the knack you're on your way.
No doubt the question arises as to the damage inflicted on the worm by the wire.Yes,the worm is almost always damaged in some way,but this is were keeping the worms in tip top condition comes into play.
Whether you pump your worms undamaged or get them with the wire,the secret in keeping them usable lies in the importance of bleeding the worms.Unbled worms do not keep well and one is very often left with pap and very useless bait.
I bleed my worms as soon as I get them.A small incision in the head part of the worm is made and all the blood,sand and guts are squeezed out.Don't bother with the tail. I place these bled worms in a bucket of clean sea water while I seek the next worm. What one will notice happening,is the worms will contract.Change the water often.This is a very important part of the process.
When I prepare the worms at home,I dry each one individually and wrap the worm in a section of newspaper.These are then keep in the fridge at a cool temperature.If done correctly,your worms will stay alive for up to 5 days.It is important to keep the temp.constant.When you use the worms at the sea,you will find that they are firm and easy to mount on the hook.
This is a tried and trusted method.It really does work!
Tight Lines
kraken