Development of a biodegradable soft bait fishing lure

Pollution from recreational fishing gear can have a significant effect on aquatic species and the environment. For these reasons, the development of more environmentally friendly fishing gear is desired to reduce the amount of marine litter caused by recreational angling. Several attempts have been made to develop biodegradable fishing baits; however, the strength, wear resistance, and water interaction properties of these baits are suboptimal. In this study, various compositions of biodegradable lures were manufactured to investigate the influence of the individual components on the important bait properties including strength, heat resistance, swelling, viscosity, and porosity. By investigating the important lure properties, the results can be compared to commercially available soft plastic lures. The baits manufactured with a low percentage of water and a high percentage of xanthan gum showed increased strength and the lowest porosity; however, these baits increased in size and weight the most during the swelling test. The lures fabricated using a high percentage of water and a low percentage of beef gelatin showed the least amount of swelling, which is desired. Lastly, the lures manufactured with a high percentage of water and a low percentage of vegetable glycerin allowed for the best heat resistance properties. The results discussed in this paper will aid in completing further formula optimizations to improve the properties of the biodegradable lures. Advances in the development of more environmentally friendly fishing tackle is essential to reduce the impact that lost and discarded fishing gear can have on the environment and wildlife. By investigating the properties of biodegradable fishing lures, progression of more sustainable alternatives can be explored to protect from the toxic chemicals and plastics that soft plastic lures contain.