Harvesting Wonderworm
MP Munnik aka Shimano
Contents1. Introduction |
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1. Introduction
This is an informative article written to inform and educate anglers on how to harvest and utilise the Wonderwurm specie and how to best utilise it.
Visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4p1q7mAdfU to view video on harvesting Wonderwurm.
2. Eco-Friendly tips
1. Rather consider alternative baits (sand prawn or redbait) as these worms are considered endangered.
2. Never buy worm from the locals. Dig out the worm yourself and you might appreciate it more and be aware of the decreasing numbers.
3. Only dig with your hands. Digging with spades, crowbars, etc damages the area and it will take longer for re-settlement of the sea-life including the worms.
4. After you are finish take the time to cover your holes again with the rocks you removed.
5. Only keep a minimum for fresh bait. Preserve the rest as described below. This will ensure minimum waist as preserved worm can be taken to the beach more than once.
3. Target Fish Species
This worm is one of the more popular worm species among Western Cape anglers for Galjoen, Belman, Steenbras, Black Tail, Red Roman, Hottentot and even Kabeljou.
4. Biologic
Wonder worm have definitely decreased to dangerous levels because of over harvesting by locals selling them. Any person that has dug for these worms for the last 20 years will tell you that.
There have been some studies done by the University of Western Cape on whether wonder worm can be bred in "farms" but the results is unknown and it seems as the study was never completed in practice.
We have harvest wonder worm up to 50cm in length. They are dark green to brown in colour and is normally identified by there extremely hard head and jaw. They bite when their mouth comes in contact with human skin.
Fish like Wildeperd, Blacktail, Galjoen, Belman, etc feed on wonder worm when the rocks and ground is dislodged at high tide. Prawns and worms are important part of these fishes diet. Therefore if you remove the fish's food from an area you will also be "removing" the fish. Wonder worm is an important specimen in the food chain.
5. Availability
There has been a huge decrease in the number and size of these worms over the past 20 years. These days at places like Kleinbaai, Pearly Beach, etc only a specimen of 20cm is considered a good size. The problem is that locals are illegally harvesting these worms and selling them to anglers therefore increasing the pressure on the stocks.
Some areas where these worms can be harvest include Melkbosstrand, Kommetjie - Soetwater, Kleinbaai, Pearly Beach and Cape Agulhas at "Die wrak".
6. Harvesting
This is one of the most difficult baits to harvest as it is done by hand. Wonder worm is normally found in areas with small to medium size rocks with sand and scales on top of a bigger seabed which is exposed at low tight. Areas where these worms have been harvest look like "holes on the moon".
Spring low is the best time to harvest these worms as less water will cover your hole while digging.
The idea is to get the piece of worm with the head on. The head piece just preserves, keeps longer fresh and is easier to hook.
1. Single person:
Firstly remove the top rocks in a 1m x 1m area. Small holes will indicate small prawns or wonder worm is present. Start in the middle and dig a hole until you find the worm or reach the bottom more solid bank. This could be anything from 30-60cm. From there you dig towards the outside of you digging area. When you see or feel the worm be careful not to get to exited and grab the worm. You will break of half your worm. You must remove all the sand and scale and place it on a heap. You will find the worm in this heap of scale and sand.
2. Buddy Dig:
Same as single person digging but you dig two separate holes next to each other about 80 cm apart. Then you start digging towards each other removing the sides. You will find that the worms that tried to escape are in this area. Always a good argument on who gets the worm!
7. Keeping Alive/Fresh
The secret as with any bait is to keep it cool for as long as possible. Also do not keep all your worms fresh as this will be an unnecessary waste of important sea resource. You can only keep the piece of worm with a head on fresh and not the headless tail piece. The best is to preserve the headless tail piece or to use it immediately. Do not waste this piece of the worm.
There are two basic methods of keeping wonder worm fresh for up to 3-4 days.
1. Method 1 - News Paper
a. After harvesting clean the worms by removing the slime and sand.
b. Then place the worms with heads on in new newspaper using the roll method. Pack the worms one by one on the news paper downwards.
c. Then lightly wet them with seawater. Just a sprinkle is needed.
d. Now roll up the newspaper with one worm per roll action. You should end up with 5 -6 worms per roll. Don't add to many worms as the paper tends to get wet and start falling apart.
e. Sprinkle the paper roll daily with sea water but be careful of too much water as the newspaper will get soaked.
f. If kept in a cool place the worm should stay fresh for 3 days. Note: Do not put the worm in the fridge as it might be too cold and freeze the worm rendering it useless.
2. Method 2 - Hessian Bag
a. After harvesting clean the worms by removing the slime and sand.
b. Then place the worms with heads on half of the hessian bag inside a plastic container. The worms must be spread out and not placed on top of each other.
c. Sprinkle the worm and bag well with Saltwater. Then fold the remaining half of the bag close thus cover the worms.
d. Every morning you will be required to remove the worm and wash them with seawater. Also soak and clean the hessian bag. Then follow the same process as b and c above.
e. If kept in a cool place the worm should stay alive and fresh for up to 5 days in the winter.
8. Preservation
Wonder worm can be used fresh or after being preserved. It is recommended that these worms are preserved to avoid worms rotting and going to waist.
1. Method 1 - Pickle
a. This is by far the most eco friendly method as it minimises waist.
b. After harvesting clean the worms by removing the slime and sand.
c. Start mixing some sea or fresh water with coarse salt. I prefer 2/3 water and 1/3 salt. You must mix until the majority of salt have dissolved. Only make enough mixture to cover your worms.
d. Place the worms in the water and make sure they are covered with your saltwater. Every 15 min or so just stir the water to ensure all worms are "salted".
e. After 60 min remove the worms from the salt and place them on newspaper of hessian bag for 30 min or so to dry.
f. Then roll up each piece worm with a head on and place them in a small Ziploc bag. About 5 -8 worms per bag should be enough.
g. Take all the pieces of worm without a head (tail piece) and put them in a tub. You will mostly use these pieces to fill up a hook or in case of emergency. However it is not recommended to preserve the tail piece.
h. Place the bags in the deep freezer. You will find that the worms never really freezers and is always a bit soft and flexible. If so you know your method you followed was correct.
i. Using this method worms can be frozen for approximately 6 months.
j. One bag should be enough for a days fishing. If you have a good cooler box you can take more than one bag and on your return freeze the leftover worm.
2. Method 2 - Salt
a. After harvesting clean the worms by removing the slime and sand.
b. Place the worm on news paper in the sun to dry out for 2-3 hour.
c. Place the worms on a dry newspaper and sprinkle them with coarse salt.
d. After 3 to 4 hours, place the worms in new newspaper using the roll method. Pack the worms one by one on the news paper downwards.
e. Cover the worms lightly with coarse salt.
f. Now roll up the newspaper with one worm per roll action. You should end up with 5 worms per roll. Don't add to many worms as the paper tends to get wet and start falling apart as the worms defrost.
g. Please the rolls of worm in a container and then in the freezer.
h. Using this method worms can be frozen for approximately 8 months.
i. One to two rolls should be enough for a days fishing. If you have a good cooler box you can take more than one bag and on your return freeze the leftover worm.
Thank you very much Shimano for this informative article.
