Marine and freshwater fish eat earthworms.

In Australian waters, black bream and whiting readily take earthworms.

Freshwater fish such as trout, redfin, bass and yellowbelly love earthworms.

They are especially good bait when the water rising after rain.

If you are a keen fisho it is worthwhile making and maintaining a worm farm.

Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Choose a suitable location
Select a suitable location for your worm farm. It should be a shaded area protected from direct sunlight and heavy rain. The ideal temperature is between 15-25°C.

Step 2: Choose a worm bin
You can purchase a ready-made worm bin or make one using a plastic storage container or a wooden box. Make sure the bin is at least 30-40cm deep and has a lid with some air holes.

Step 3: Prepare bedding
Bedding provides a comfortable environment for the worms and retains moisture. Use a combination of shredded newspaper, cardboard, coconut coir, and leaves. Soak the bedding material in water and wring out excess moisture before adding it to the bin.

Step 4: Add worms
Obtain red worms or tiger worms, also known as composting worms, to add to your worm farm. These worms are ideal as they are surface-dwelling and consume large amounts of organic waste. They also wriggle a lot on the hook. But ordinary earthworms work too.

Step 5: Add organic waste
Worms eat a range of organic waste, including fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and paper. Avoid adding meat, dairy, oily foods, and citrus fruits, as they can be too acidic or difficult for worms to digest.

Step 6: Maintain the worm farm
Regularly maintain your farm to keep it healthy and productive. Keep the bedding moist, but not waterlogged, by spraying it with water. Add small amounts of food waste regularly, rather than large quantities. Keep the worm bin covered to protect it from extreme weather and pests.

Step 7: Harvest vermicompost
After a few months, the worms will convert the organic waste into worm castings. To harvest this vermicompost, push the castings to one side and add fresh bedding and food. The worms will migrate to the new bedding, allowing collection of the worm castings, which are great for gardens. Bonus!

Fish your worms with a fine hook for best results. Worms work especially well during and just after floods.

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