about bloodworms

[marito001]

Hi there everyone! Does anybody know how to raise bloodworms? where can I find live bloodworms, I found some earthworms, dont know if they work for saltwater fishing, but I´m interested in bloodworms, there huge. I just strated farming earthworms. any advise will be great. Thnak you very much.
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[Tarpon4me]

I'm not so sure how well you'd be able to farm blood worms. Besides, the synthetic baits they make in place of the real thing actually works a whole lot better. I've attached a little info about blood worms below, maybe then you'll see why they would be near impossible to farm. I think the bulk of blood worms are harvested from the wild, not farmed.

Anatomy
Bloodworms have a creamy pink color, as their pale skin allows their red body fluids to show through. This is the origin of the name "bloodworm". At the 'head', bloodworms have four small antennae and small fleshy projections called parapodia running down their bodies. The parapodia also contain their gills, which they use to breathe. Bloodworms can grow up to 35 cm in length.
[/url] [[url "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glycera_%28genus%29&action=edit&section=2"]edit[/url]] Ecology
Bloodworms are poor swimmers but good burrowers, living on the sandy or silty bottoms of the intertidal or subtidal regions. Though usually marine, they can tolerate low salt levels in the water, and also poor oxygen levels. Bloodworms and all water worms have adapted to life in the sand and silt for the protection it offers.
Bloodworms are carnivorous. They feed by extending a large [url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proboscis"]proboscis[/url] that bears four hollow jaws. The jaws are connected to glands that supply poison which they use to kill their prey, and their bite is painful even to a human. They are preyed on by other worms, by bottom-feeding [url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish"]fish[/url] and [url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crustacean"]crustaceans[/url], and by [url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gull"]gulls[/url].
Reproduction occurs in midsummer, when the warmer water temperature and lunar cycle among other factors triggers sexually mature worms to transform into a non-feeding stage called the [url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epitoky"]epitoke[/url]. With enlarged [url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parapodia"]parapodia[/url], they swim to the surface of the water where both sexes release gametes, and then die.
The animals are unique in that they contain a lot of copper without being poisoned. Their jaws are unusually strong since they too contain the metal in the form of a copper-based chloride biomineral, known as atacamite. And unlike the clamworm (Nereis limbata), whose jaws contain the metal zinc, the copper in the mineral in the jaws of Glycera is actually present in its crystalline form. It is theorized that this copper is used as a catalyst for its poisonous bite.
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[marito001]

Wow! That´s great info, thank you very much. I also red they only live for a feew weeks, so, I don´t see the purpose of farming them, if I will use theme seasonly when going fishing. Are eartworms better for fishing on piers? Thank you very much
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[Tarpon4me]

You know, it really depends on what you're trying to catch. Prodominately on the east coast, a fish called a Spot is the prime target with blood worms.



They are relatively small, the largest reaching around a pound or a little bigger. The delight with these little buggers is they gather in huge numbers and can be caught by the 5 gallon bucket load when they are in the area. A simple two hook rig on a 10 pound class rod and reel, and you're in business. Personally though, I find the artificial blood worms to be the best bait, way better than actual blood worms.



The above is called fishbites bag o' worms. (bloodworms) They run around 7 bucks a bad and they are searious bait. I'll tell you how good they are.................

The year before last I tried them serious for the first time. I parked my boat in the middle of the gaggle of boats where the spots were at. When I first anchored off, I noticed that there really weren't that many people catching fish, and I also noticed that the bulk of them were using live bloodworms. With that said, My son, father in law, and I rigged up with two-hook drop rigs and very small 1/4" square pieces of fishbites on each hook. Just as soon as our lines hit the water, we began catching fish, and it didn't stop until our lines got pulled in for the morning. No one around us catching much. You could tell they were getting pissed because they started re-anchoring to get closer and closer to your boat. They'd keep looking over to see what I was using for bait. The ones that were asking questions were the ones that were trying to push me out of the spot, so I lied and told them I was using big red chewing gum. LMAO!! Most of those guys were fishing for them to eat, I was fishing for them for bait. They are wicked tough fish and make a wonderful live bait. Every predator in the ocean eats spots. Personally, I don't think they are really that great to eat, but others swear by them. Go figure.[cool]

Anyhow, I think I veered considerably from your original question, so back to the grind. What ever eats bloodworms will probably eat earthworms. However, that won't always be the case. I know if reference to spots its true. When they start feeding, just about any offering will do, but it won't be as good as blood worms or the artificial stuff.

If you're going to fish off of a peir, I suggest small pieces of squid. If there are large sea bass or similar species off the peir where you're fishing, then up size your gear and use larger pieces of squid. Like spots, every thing in the ocean eats squid. It doesn't matter if you're in 300 feet of water offshore, or in 15' of water on a pier, you'll get bites. []

I hope this helps!
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