Rigging a Pipi

Not all beaches will hold pipis. Pipis aren’t always in the same place, no matter the tide, they move up and down the beach from the waterline (intertidal zone), to up past the highwater mark. Pipis are impacted by various weather conditions and move accordingly.

Pipis can be found by doing the ‘pipi shuffle’. This is a matter of simply shuffling your feet into the sand as the water covers your feet or ankles. You can move around and continue the shuffle until you feel pipis beneath your feet. When you find one, shuffle around more in the immediate area because they tend to be found in batches. The hour either side of low tide is best.

Tip: If you can’t find the pipis at the low water mark with your feet, move up to the soft sand and dig. In the softer sand they are buried deeper, however they are much easier to get out.

Really, there is not much to putting a pipi on as bait. The main thing is that you need to ensure that it doesn't come off. To do this you need to use a bait keeper style hook. Pass the hook through the stomach area first and then out through the tougher tongue section a couple of times. You can then tie a couple of half hitches around the end of the gut to help stop it from slipping down the hook.

Technique 1

Have you ever tried preserving your pipis so that you can use them later? To do this you will need to remove the pipi from their shell and the easiest way we have found to do this is to place the shells in ice cold salted water.

This will cause the pipi to become limp and the shell will be much easier to open with either an oyster knife or a blunt knife. Carefully force the knife between each side of the shell and twist the shell apart and open.

Remove the pipi meat from the shell and place it into a small plastic container, then add some coarse salt. Generally, one handful of salt to 50 pipis will be plenty. By doing this you will preserve the pipi so that the meat that will last for weeks in the fridge and they will not go rotten or stink. At the time of writing in NSW this is your bag limit, however it’s best to stay up to date with local rules and regulations.

If you prefer to not have them in the fridge, then you can separate them into small zip lock bags of 10 in each and then place them into the freezer. You will find that they will not freeze hard, but still stay soft and pliable.

Technique 2

To help them stay on the hook, I would suggest that you try using a hook that has small baitkeeper spikes that are found along the shaft of the hook. If the pipi keeps sliding down the hook you could always use a bait thread, such as Bait Mate.

This special thread grips the bait firmly, without squashing the life out of it, with no knot or tie off required. Bait juices are absorbed as the Bait Mate has no artificial colouring. Simply hold the baited hook and wind the yarn firmly around the bait, then pull under tension and snap the yarn.

Technique 3

Whether I am fishing off the beach or out of a boat, I will sometimes make up a bait cocktail. This will consist of the pipi as the main bait, with either small pieces of beach worm or strips of fresh squid added.

The worms or small strips will help entice the fish over, not only with their smell but also the movement of the bait in the wash or current.

Rod Selection:

Okuma Barbarian Spin Rods - BN-S-802NT 8'0", 2-4kg Nibble Tip: Ideal for either out of the boat or off the shore in the estuary.

Okuma Barbarian Spin Rods - BN-S-902NT 9'0", 2-6kg Nibble Tip: Ideal for either out of the boat or off the shore in the estuary where you may need some extra length in the rod.

Okuma Barbarian Spin Rods - BN-S-1062NT 10'6", 2-6kg Nibble Tip: Ideal for off the rocks when there is not a lot of ocean swell.

Okuma Barbarian Spin Rods - BN-S-1162NT 11'6", 2-6kg Nibble Tip: ideal for fishing off a breakwall or the rocks when you need that extra length to lift or wash the fish out.

Reel Selection:

Okuma Alaris Spin Reels – ALS-45 and ALS-55

Okuma JAW Spin Reels – JAW-45

LINE & LEADER:

Platypus Platinum & Pulse Mono -10lb and 12lb for off the rocks and breakwalls.

Platypus Platinum & Pulse Mono – 8lb and 10lb for the estuaries.

Hard Armour FC Fluorocarbon Leader – 4, 6, 8 and 10lb as your leader material.