~ 277 ~ International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2021; 9(6): 277-281 E-ISSN: 2347-5129 P-ISSN: 2394-0506 (ICV-Poland) Impact Value: 5.62 (GIF) Impact Factor: 0.549 IJFAS 2021; 9(6): 277-281 © 2021 IJFAS www.fisheriesjournal.com Received: 14-09-2021 Accepted: 03-11-2021 Ida Ayu Lochana Dewi Fish Agribusiness Program of Study, Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic Jl. Prof. Dr. Herman Johanes, Lasiana, Kecamatan Kelapa Lima, Kota Kupang, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia Shobikhuliatul Jannah Juanda Fish Agribusiness Program of Study, Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic Jl. Prof. Dr. Herman Johanes, Lasiana, Kecamatan Kelapa Lima, Kota Kupang, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia Corresponding Author: Ida Ayu Lochana Dewi Fish Agribusiness Program of Study, Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic Jl. Prof. Dr. Herman Johanes, Lasiana, Kecamatan Kelapa Lima, Kota Kupang, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia Optimization of catch by phosphor coating of artificial baits Ida Ayu Lochana Dewi and Shobikhuliatul Jannah Juanda Abstract Artificial baits are necessary to get an ample amount of catches. Fishing rod requires a bait that is attractive to fish so they can be caught easily. Other than colors, fish are also attracted to light that comes from planktons or other fish (bioluminescence), and tend to move toward the light sources (positive phototaxis). Based on this phenomenon, a research of phosphorization of artificial baits in relation to the catch numbers has been conducted. Phosphor is a substance that can absorb and reflect light, so it’s an ideal substance to be used for layering of fish baits. This research has been conducted in Marine Nature Park of Kupang Bay, East Nusa Tenggara from April to June 2021. The method being used is experimental fishing, with increasing amount of phosphor being used in every 60 grams of bait. There are four levels of treatment; without phosphor, 10 grams, 30 grams, and 50 grams of phosphor. The amount of fishing trips being repeated are 16. Data analysis is using analysis of variance with further testing of mean for each variable. Result of the research shows that there are nine type of caught fish, which are Sphyraena sp., Lutjau ruselli, Caranx sexfasciatus, Plectropomus leopardus, Rastrelliger sp., Trichiurus lepturus, Lutjanus, Lutjanus jocu, and Epinephelus coioides. Based on the result of analysis of variance, increasing amount of phosphor contributed significantly to the number of catches (F-test 4.91 > F-table 1%). From further testing, treatment 2, 3, and 4 are significantly different than treatment 1 (without phosphor), meanwhile each treatment with increasing amount of phosphor shows least significant difference in result. Keywords: Biolomminescence, fishing rods, photo taxis, addition of phosphorus 1. Introduction Recreational fishing is one of the activities in the fisheries sector, which is currently rapidly developing. An important fishing gear used in such activities is fishing rods. Fishing techniques, including use of fishing rods, have remained relatively the same since ancient times, which are based on the use of the fish's own behavior of being attracted to other fish and/or aquatic invertebrate species as preys (Yuda et al., 2012; Lokkeborg et al., 2014) [25, 13] . Referring to this behaviour, the whole body and/or parts of fish or other aquatic invertebrates (squids), or land animals, such as earthworms, are used as bait in fishing activities (Fitriana et al., 2018) [9] . The next development about bait is the discovery of artificial bait that can be used as an alternative to natural bait. It is certainly designed specifically to attract fish for fishing purposes. The development of artificial bait is based on the fact that the population fish commonly used as bait is starting to decline (Dewi dan Juanda, 2014) [6] . In addition, the development of artificial bait in fishing activities is also aimed at minimizing operational costs because of the lower cost, ability of being used more than once, and ability to withstand damage during storage (Dewi dan Juanda, 2014) [6] . Various studies on effect artificial bait on fish catches have been carried out. Such studies include the effect of artificial bait color and material, e.g. patchwork yarn (Dewi & Juanda, 2014; Farikha et al., 2014; Moraga et al., 2015) [6, 8, 14] and poultry feathers. Colour significantly affected catches. The effect of bait color is actually related to color reflection caught by the retina of fish (Niam et al., 2013; Puspito, 2010) [15, 17] . This is due to the presence of rod and cone cells in the fish retina that allow fish retinas of being able to absorb light well (Subani & Barus, 1989) [22] . In addition to being attracted to colors of artificial bait, fish is also attracted to light (Notanubun et al., 2010; Sulaiman et al., 2015) [16, 23] .