There’s a new fish bait on the market that’s going to establish itself as a direct competitor to mackerel.

I first came across the “Bluey” when fishing in Iceland during the summer of 2006. Geordie angler Steve Mason, a professional fish filleter now living and working in Iceland, came across these saury type fish being brought in to Iceland from the Far East as commercial bait. Realising its potential, he tried it for shore angling and found it just as effective as normal lugworm, mussel and squid baits for the local cod, haddock, catfish and many other species. So much so, that he now rarely digs worms or collects shellfish relying heavily on the bluey’s.

With a 200 mile commercial fishing exclusion zone for all foreign vessels, plus sensible conservation measures applying to their own commercial fleet, Iceland has natural fish stocks that are the envy of the rest of the World.