Ragworm

Ragworm is a generic term for one of the most effective and popular sea fishing baits. They are classed as polychaete (segmented) worms, with hundreds of species existing on a worldwide basis. There are two main types of ragworm used as bait: the larger king ragworm (Alitta virens) and the smaller common ragworm (Perinereis cultrifera), which is also known as red ragworm. Click here to read about all of the different species of ragworm which are used by anglers in the UK.

Description, Habitat and Life Cycle

King ragworm
King ragworm can be up to 90cm long.

King ragworm range in colour from reddish-brown to black and have hundreds of small legs (parapodia) running down the side of their body which are usually yellowish in colour. They are armed with pincers that are capable of giving a painful nip to an unwary angler. King ragworm can grow in size to around 90cm (3 feet), but the average size is around 30cm (12 inches). Common ragworm are similar colours but smaller, growing to an average of around 15cm (6 inches). They also have a set of pincers in their head which can deliver a bite to anglers.

Ragworm movement
Ragworm move through the sand by using the parapodia on the side of their body, which also act as gills allowing the worm to breathe underwater.

Both species are found on sandy and muddy beaches across the vast majority of the British Isles. They live in burrows located between the high tide and low tide points and are often found in areas which offer some form of shelter, such as coves, harbours and estuaries. They can feed in a predatory manner, consuming tiny sea creatures, but can also feed on microscopic organisms suspended in seawater and on organic plant matter. Ragworms reproduce when they are two to three years old, when they emerge from their burrows and freely swim in sea to spawn, after which they will die. Ragworms are a source of prey for a wide range of fish and wading birds, and play an important part in the marine ecosystem in many parts of the world. Ragworm also have significant commercial and economic value (see section below).

Use as Bait

The smallest ragworm that are likely to be useful as bait are likely to be around 9 – 12cm (3 – 4 inches) in length and can be hooked in bunches of several worms, whereas larger worms can be used individually (see bait presentation section below). Ragworm is an effective bait when targeting cod, whiting, coalfish, pollock, wrasse and all species of flatfish – in fact most fish found around the British Isles will take ragworm, and highly sought after fish such as bass can also be caught on ragworm in the right conditions. Ragworm are a tough and durable bait and a worm that has been pierced with a hook and cast out to sea is usually still wriggling when reeled back in, meaning that ragworm have a useful additional visual attraction to fish. This wriggling action means that ragworm are also an excellent choice of bait when float fishing.

Buying Ragworm

Ragworm are commonly sold from fishing tackle shops and are usually available all year round. They are usually sold in packets for around £2.50 to £4, with the individual number of worms included varying depending on the size of the individual worms.

Shop bought ragworm
Ragworm are commonly available from angling shops and often come wrapped in newspaper.

Tackle shops usually supply ragworms in wrapped in newspaper, with the worms themselves being in vermiculite (a natural mineral used in insulation) or sawdust. If they are kept in this packaging and placed in the fridge they will usually remain in good condition for one or two days.

Digging Your Own Ragworm

Ragworm
Image of a ragworm in its burrow.

Ragworm can be found on a wide range of beaches made up of mud, sand or clay. They live in U-shaped burrows between the high and low water marks, and can be identified by a pair of small holes in the sand which mark their burrows. Stepping down near to these holes may result in a spurt of water rushing out, which is confirmation that a ragworm burrow has been located. In areas where ragworm is abundant a single footstep can result in several tell-tale spurts of water. Before starting to dig for ragworms it is important to check local regulations. Some councils restrict digging to certain times of the year, whereas others ban bait digging altogether. On some beaches there may be signs present to show the restrictions on bait digging, but on others it may be necessary to contact the local authority to find out if bait digging is allowed.

Once ragworm have been located the best course of action is to dig down between the two holes and find the worm and carefully dig it out of its burrow. Many anglers prefer to use a three or four-pronged garden fork rather than a spade, as this results in less cut and broken worms. Generally, the smaller common ragworm will be found in greater numbers, meaning it is possible to dig a large number of these worms from a relatively small area. King ragworm do not live in such close proximity and many only be found individually. Anglers usually find a mix of both king and common ragworms during a bait digging session.

Bait Digging
An angler digging for ragworms. Sheltered beaches within harbours can often prove the most productive areas to dig for ragworms.

Ragworm can burrow down to depths of one metre, especially in cold and frosty weather, meaning it can take considerable physical effort to dig for this species. Always fill holes back that have been dug on the beach back in before heading for home – leaving craters on a beach looks terrible and certain beaches around the UK have seen bait digging banned due to the state anglers leave the beach in after digging bait. Always check ragworm prior to storing and separate any damaged or cut worms from the full ones and store these separately. Worms that are damaged will not keep for as long as those that are in good condition and the presence of dead worms will shorten the lifespan of live ones.

Storing Ragworm

Ragworm
Large king ragworm in vermiculite.

Whether ragworm have been collected or bought from a shop they will keep for several days by simply wrapping them in newspaper and placing them in the fridge. Keeping ragworm for longer than this involves keeping them in water. Use a shallow plastic tray – a cat litter tray is ideal – and fill it with just a few millimetres of seawater and place the ragworms in (they should be partially, but not fully, submerged). Cover with a large cloth which has been dampened with seawater and store the tray in the fridge. Check the worms every day and remove any dead worms and change the water if it discolours. It is best to keep a supply of seawater in the fridge for water changes as the worms may die if their refridgerated seawater is replaced with room-temperature seawater. Ragworm kept in this way will keep for around five days to a week. Unfortunately, ragworm cannot be frozen as they become too mushy and soft to use as bait once refrosted.

Spawning Ragworm

King ragworm spawn in spring when they change to a greenish colour and leave the safety of their burrows and swim openly in the sea. During this time the ragworms bodies are full of a slimy green/white milky liquid which they will release when broken. The usefulness of spawning ragworm is disputed. Some books such as A Complete Guide to Fishing (1979) states: “during this [breeding] season … the worm is of very little use as bait.” Other anglers claim that the ragworm is still a good bait when it is spawning, with some even prefering to use ragworm when they are in this state. Many anglers successfully catch fish with spawning ragworm, and it stands to reason that if ragworm are swimming freely through the sea then fish will be feeding on them, and they will therefore make a good bait.

Bait Presentation

Ragworm on hook
A single medium-sized ragworm presented on the hook

Generally, ragworm which are six to eight inches long are the ideal size to use as single baits and can have the hook pushed through their head and then fed through their body. The hook then exits the body and leaves the tail of the worm to wriggle and attract fish. Smaller ragworm can be hooked in the same way for single baits for small flatfish, or several can be hooked at once to provide a bigger bait for fish such as cod or bass. Small worms are also ideal to use as part of a cocktail bait. Very large king ragworm can be cut in half and used as two separate baits.

Ragworm Jaws
Ragworm have jaws which can bite!

Some anglers believe there is benefit in head-hooking ragworm, leaving the vast majority of the worm to wriggle freely about in a natural manner. While this hooking technique can be effective it can also lead to ragworm snapping or breaking up when hitting the water if anything other than the gentlest casts are used. For this reason many anglers prefer to feed the hook further down the worm so that only the tail is free, as this provides a much more secure bait for casting. A lively ragworm can give a surprisingly painful nip with their jaws so anglers should be careful when baiting up. Ragworm is commonly used as a cocktail bait and can be combined with any other sea fishing bait. Anglers often use a medium-sized ragworm as a the main part of a cockltail bait and then tip it off with a strip of mackerel or squid. Peeler crab legs or claws can also be used to tip off ragworm baits and this combination can be very effective for a range of species. As stated ragworm can be an excellent float fishing bait as the wriggling tail attracts fish which are active in mid-water such as pollock, wrasse, mackerel and coalfish.

Commercial Ragworm Farming and Economic Value

With a huge number of anglers throughout the UK purchasing ragworms on a regular basis ragworms have considerable economic value. There are an estimated 3,500 tons of ragworm dug across the UK each year, equivalent to around 600 million individual worms. The trade of ragworms is worth around £8 million per year in the UK alone and ragworm sell for around £50 per kilo which compares with £4 – 5 per kilo for valuable food fish such as cod and haddock.

In the early 2000s it was announced that a large ragworm farm would be Carmarthenshire, Wales. Originally intended to consist of 270 tanks and employ over one-hundred people, the farm would supply ragworms to both fishing shops and provide a sustainable source of feed to the fish farming and aquaculture industries. Millions of pounds of public money was provided to get the farm up and running. However, the farm was never fully completed – only seventy-four tanks were ever built and only seven people were employed. In 2011 the company owning the farm went into liquidation, and the founder of the company was later jailed for three years and nine months for fraud. Read a full article on this story by clicking here.

Ragworms as Food

Cha ruoi
The Vietnamese dish of Cha ruoi is made with ragworms as the main ingredient.

As unusual (and unpalatable) as it may seem to UK-based anglers, ragworms are used as a source of food in some parts of the world where insect cuisine is commonly eaten. The Vietnamese dish of Cha ruoi is made by shaping ragworm, pork, egg and onion, chilli, salt and pepper into cakes and then frying them. For those with adventurous tastes the recipe is available here.