Live bait online in India

Live prawns and shrimp are the classic bait for backwaters and estuaries, taken by barramundi, mangrove jack, sea bream and snappers. Small baitfish such as sardines, mackerel and mullet are used for queenfish, trevally, seer fish and other predators. Earthworms catch tilapia, catfish and many pond fish. Small crabs work around rocks and mangroves.

Live bait does not travel well, so buy it as close as possible to your fishing day and near the water. In the shop, check the city a listing ships from or can be collected in. Many anglers also catch their own baitfish with a small sabiki rig or a cast net where that is allowed.

Use a bucket or bait tank with an aerator, keep it in the shade and change the water regularly with water of the same kind (salt or fresh). Do not overcrowd it. Keep worms cool and damp, never in direct sun. Handle bait gently and only as much as needed.

Hook baitfish lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal fin, and prawns through the tail or under the head horn, so they stay lively. Use a hook sized to the bait, not to the fish. A light float or a running sinker lets the bait swim naturally.

Never use protected species as bait. Do not release unused live bait into a different water body: it can carry disease or become invasive. Check the rules of private ponds and protected waters, some of which do not allow live bait.

Local bait and tackle shops near rivers, backwaters and harbours are the usual source. On Fishing Journey, live bait listings show the city they ship from or can be collected in.

With cool, aerated water and shade, prawns and baitfish usually last through a day of fishing. Without aeration or in the sun they weaken within hours, so buy close to your trip.

In Indian backwaters and estuaries, barramundi, mangrove jack, sea bream, snappers and many other fish take live prawns readily. The species list on this page is built from the bait notes in our species guide.

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