Saltwater salmon season is right around the corner across Puget Sound and the West Coast and now is the time to get prepared. I’ll be leaning heavily on a few proven setups this season:
- Super Baits
- Spinfish
- Cut plugs
- E-Plugs
- Maglips
Each of these presentations shines when paired with the right bait “stuffing” technique and that’s where my KB Stuffing Mash comes in.
KB Stuffing Mash (Proven Saltwater Salmon Recipe)
I’ve been using this recipe for years in Puget Sound with consistent success. It’s deadly effective when done right, and while the ingredients can change depending on what’s available, the core formula stays the same.
Core Ingredients:
- Tuna belly
- Anchovy
- Sardine
- Herring
- Prawn
- Squid
- Meat grinder (or sharp knife as backup)
How to Make the Mash
Start by filleting all bait fish and removing the skin. Add everything into a meat grinder, including the prawn and squid.
If you’re using sardines, this is where things really come alive. They release a heavy, oily liquid that becomes “gold” in your mix; make sure you capture it all during the grind.
Grind everything as fine as possible. You’re aiming for a consistency similar to canned tuna. If you don’t have a grinder, a sharp knife works, but expect more prep time.
For herring, I typically use green/blue label size fish so you get solid fillets without breaking down too many small bait fish.
For prawns, local spot prawns are ideal when available, but frozen bagged prawns also work great. For squid, Elixir-style squid (often sold as crab bait) works perfectly, along with standard frozen sardines from most bait shops.
Once your mash is ready, mix in:
- A couple tablespoons of granulated salt
- Amino Acid bite stimulant
Thoroughly mix and let it rest overnight in the fridge. This allows the oils and stimulants to fully bind into the mash. There is so many different options to add, everyone has their own secrets and tricks but this simple formula works great.
The result is a bait that consistently increases strike rates and often triggers more aggressive hits.
Yes, it’s messy. But it flat out produces.
How I Use It
I run this KB Stuffing Mash across multiple presentations:
- Stuffed into Super Baits
- Packed into Spinfish
- Loaded into Cut Plugs
- Used in E-Plugs
- Wrapped on plugs
It’s extremely versatile and can be adjusted depending on conditions, water clarity, and target species.
Pro Tip: Dial In Your Ratios
No two batches have to be identical. Some days a heavier sardine base absolutely dominates, other days a more balanced herring/tuna blend shines.
I also use this same base mash in river systems especially when wrapping plugs or building roe sacs for salmon.
Shop the Gear (Used in This System)
Everything mentioned above is available in my shop and designed to work together as a system for saltwater salmon success.
Plug & Bait Presentations
0 comments