author(s)
Masilan Karunanithi, Neethiselvan Neethirajan, Velayutham Padmanaban, Jeya Shakila Robinson and Lidiya Wilwet

abstract
This study is focused on the use of dry artificial fish bait such as shrimp head waste (SHW) and poultry intestinal muscles (PIM) for trapping fish instead of if using costly edible fishes such as sardines (Sardinella gibbosa)and squids (Uroteuthis duvaucelii) as baits. About 25 dry baits were prepared and tested for stability in seawater and acceptance by tilapia (Oreochromis mosambicus).Based on the results, two baits were selected for the experiment. Selected baits were differentiated into two shapes (stick and sphere) and tested for protein leaching and dry matter loss in sea water. The stick-shaped bait considered as a more appropriate because it containing 52% PIM and 20%SHWwith the protein leaching rate of 11.71 mg/g/h and dry matter loss of40.12 mg/gm/h. When these stick shaped baits used for fishing, the catch rate was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those baited with squid meat (18Nos/trap) and sardines (22Nos/trap).Further, the catch rate of traps baited with artificial bait (36 /trap) was compared with those baited with raw shrimp head wastes (37Nos/trap).