Fishbites South Africa

STOP FEEDING THE FISH AND START CATCHING THEM!

​By Capt. Phil Spinner

​Alright, listen up! If you haven’t tried Fishbites yet, you’re basically bringing a biltong knife to a gunfight against the South African swell. These little strips of "scent-magic" are changing the game from the cold Atlantic bricks to the warm Indian Ocean blue.

​Here is how you stop being a "charity worker" for the peckers and start hooking the trophies.

Rock & Surf: The "Iron-Clad" Approach

​In SA, our surf is aggressive and our small fish are thieves. If you’re tired of reeling in a bare hook every five minutes, Fishbites are your new best friend.

• ​The Solo Specialist: Most guys think you have to use natural bait. Wrong! In a heavy wash, a piece of Fishbites E-Z Shrimp (Pink or White) on its own is a deadly mimic for sea worms. It stays on the hook through the wildest shore break—no bait cotton required!

• ​The "Alternative" Cocktail: I’m a purist at heart, but when the fishing is slow, I use the Cocktail Trick. Put your fresh red bait or pilchard on, then "lock" it in with a small square of Fishbites. It’s an insurance policy; if the peckers rip your natural bait off, you’ve still got a scented hook in the water.

Deep Sea: The Deep-Water Dinner Bell

​When you’re dropping 50 meters or more for Red Roman, Geelbek, or Yellowtail, it’s all about the nose.

• ​Bottom Fishing Brilliance: Use Squid or Mullet strips. These things are engineered to release amino acids that drive bottom fish absolutely loopy. While natural bait can go "numb" and lose its scent in deep, cold water, Fishbites keep pumping out the pheromones for up to an hour.

• ​Jig Tipping: If you’re vertical jigging, try "tailing" your assist hooks with a thin slice of Fishbites. It gives the fish a reason to commit to the strike when they’re just following the metal.

Phil’s Target Species Cheat Sheet

• ​Galjoen: Use Shrimp (Pink/Red). Mimics the reef-life they scrape off the rocks.

• ​Kob (Kabeljou): Use Squid or Mullet (White). They hunt by scent in murky water; this is their dinner bell.

• ​Yellowtail: Use Squid or Glow-in-the-dark. That extra visual pop in the deep triggers the strike.

• ​White Steenbras: Use Shrimp. This is their absolute favorite snack in the sand.

• ​Red Roman / Red Stump: Use Crab or Clam. These reef-bashers have a massive sweet tooth for shellfish.

​The "No-Tangle" Rigging Secret

​To keep your rig from looking like a "birds-nest" in the shore break:

• ​Stiff Snoods: Use a slightly thicker mono (0.50mm+) for your hook snoots to keep them "proud" of the mainline.

• ​Short & Sweet: Keep snoots to 20cm max.

• ​The Double-Stitch: Thread the hook through the Fishbite strip, twist it, and poke it through again. This stops the strip from spinning like a propeller and tangling your line!

Phil’s Golden Rules

• ​Temperature Check: Western Cape (Cold)? Use "Fast Acting." KZN (Warm)? Use "Longer Lasting."

• ​Dry Hands Only: Don't reach into the bag with wet hands. It’s like putting a Gremlin in the shower—bad things happen!

• ​The Tooth Test: For Elf (Shad), use the mesh-backed version. Their teeth are razors, but that mesh buys you the hook-up.

For more information, email info@finseeker.co.za

or call +27 41 374 0898.