Bait Guide
Worm
Ragworm
King rag and harbour rag. Better than lug for bass, wrasse, sole and mullet; as good as lug for flounder.
Easy
Presentation
Hook once through the head so it wriggles. A whole king rag for bass; a small harbour rag for dabs.
A bristle worm sold as king rag (large) or harbour rag (small). They wriggle hard and leak scent in a tide. Many anglers pick rag when they want bass, wrasse or flatfish in mixed ground rather than a big winter beach.
Ranked from the species list. Commonly used — not a guarantee of catching.
- Black breamStrong target
- Corkwing wrasseStrong target
- DabStrong target
- Dover soleStrong target
- Five-bearded rocklingStrong target
- FlounderStrong target
- Golden-grey mulletStrong target
- PlaiceStrong target
- Poor codStrong target
- PoutingStrong target
- Red mulletStrong target
- Shore rocklingStrong target
- Thin-lipped grey mulletStrong target
- Tub gurnardStrong target
- WhitingStrong target
- Ballan wrasseGood target
- BassGood target
- CoalfishGood target
- European eelGood target
- Lemon soleGood target
- Lesser weeverGood target
- PollockGood target
- Red gurnardGood target
- Thick-lipped grey mulletGood target
- CodPossible target
- HaddockPossible target
- ScadPossible target
- Sea troutPossible target
- 1Keep rag cool and damp — they go off faster than lug.
- 2Match hook size to the worm: small for harbour rag, larger for a king rag aimed at bass.
- 3Hook once through the head so the body can still wriggle.
- 4Bind only if you must cast a long way; a lively rag is the point.
- 5Keep the point clear.