Bait rarely gets much attention outside the fishing industry.
Consumers want to know where their seafood was caught, how it was handled and whether it came from a responsible source.
But few consider what goes into the trap. Bait can shape seafood quality, fishery health and the story behind the product that eventually reaches the plate—and it deserves a more serious conversation.
Modern bait comes with a catch
For decades, seafood traps have effectively acted as underwater feeding stations.
“A baby lobster can go into the trap, eat the bait, crawl out and keep growing,” says Ben McKinney, Chief Operating Officer at Canastra Fishing Co.
“The lobster fishery has exploded based on what we’ve been feeding them. If we put 100,000 buffets out for wolves or deer, their population would explode too!”
Good bait doesn’t just help crews fish better; it keeps seafood stock healthy and moving through the supply chain.
But bait quality may be shaping more than the size and strength of a fishery.
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From bait to plate
As bait costs rise, the industry has started experimenting with alternative ingredients, including processed animal byproducts.
But for buyers, bait choice affects more than performance and price.
“If lobsters are eating that, then that’s what we’re eating,” Ben says.
“If you’re eating a lobster that’s been feeding on animal byproducts, the outside still looks like lobster, but most of what it has eaten may be pig hide or cowhide.”
That raises a bigger question for seafood buyers. If consumers care about what cattle and poultry eat, shouldn’t they also care about what wild seafood eats from traps?
“I think the flavor is distinctly different,” Ben notes what he’s seen across the wider lobster industry. “And I’ve seen off-colored lobster insides while they were being cleaned. To me, that shows an unhealthy lobster.”
There are also cultural issues to consider.
As Ben points out, “There are people around the world who love lobster and seafood, but don’t eat pork or beef. If they found out lobster had been feeding on pork or beef products, that creates a whole new issue.”
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Better bait starts with better decisions
What goes into a lobster trap today may ultimately influence what gets buttered on the dinner plate tomorrow.
Seafood-based bait gives buyers a clearer story. It keeps the conversation closer to the ocean food chain that customers expect and connects bait choice with product quality and fishery health.
Rising costs and supply challenges are real pressures for the fishing industry. Crews need bait that performs on the water and keeps their operations commercially viable.
But as fisheries continue experimenting with new materials and formulations, the quality and composition of bait deserve closer attention from harvesters, buyers, and consumers alike.
“Good bait is worth paying for if it helps you catch better fish,” Ben says.
In the end, the future of seafood quality may depend as much on what goes into the trap as what comes out of it.
Talk to Canastra Fishing Co. about sourcing seafood-based bait that supports strong trap performance and a cleaner seafood story.
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