37 Continental J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science 3: 37 - 41, 2009 © Wilolud Online Journals, 2009. EFFECT OF BAITS TYPE ON FISH CONGREGATION AND CATCH EFFICIENCY OF CASTNET IN LAKE KAINJI, NIGERIA. Y.B. Ahmed 1 , L.A. Argungu 2 and T.A. Tagago 3 1 Federal College Of Freshwater Fisheries Technology,P.M.B. 1500, New Bussa, Niger State. 2 Department of Forestry and Fisheries,Usmanu Danfodiyo University,P.M. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria. 3 Kebbi Agricultural and Rural Development Authority,Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. ABSTRACT The effect of baits, rice bran (Oryza sativa L.) and corn bran (Zea mays L.) on fish aggregation and catch efficiency of castnet in Lake Kainji was conducted. 25.4mm stretched mesh size multifilament (PA) nylon net was used for the construction of castnet. The experiment was Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications for nineteen consecutive fishing days. Three treatments were employed; castnetting after baiting with rice bran, with corn-bran, and castneting without bait (control). Thirteen fish species were caught from eight families. The number of fish caught was 336, of which 48.5 and 27.1% were castnetting with corn bran and without bait while castnetting with rice bran recorded the least (24.4%). The biomass of fish caught was 4627.7g (4.6kg) of which the highest percentages 51.4 and 28.6% followed same trend as that of number of fish caught. Comparison of the overall number and biomass of fish capture indicated that Tilapia zilli ranked highest, next by Citharinus citharus and Hydrocynus forskalii. Recommendations have been made for areas of further studies in these aspects. INTRODUCTION Castnet fishing is regarded as a traditional method of catching fish that has been used since antiquity. The most widely used artisanal fishing gears in Nigerian freshwater and brackish water as well as coastal waters, are gillnets and castnets (FAO, 1969). Castnet are conical falling nets with lead (Pb) weights attached at regular intervals along the perimeter of the cone (Udolisa and Solarin, 1979). It is an active fishing gear; that is it catches fish instantly. Hayes et al. (1996) reported that a light or bait is often used to attract the target fish into an area within the castnet’s range. Fishing baits lures and attraction devices, are often incorporated into some fishing gears in order to improve their efficiency such fishing gears include handlines, longlines, trolling and traps etc (Ahmed et al, 2005). Baits may include rotten meat, dead or live fish, palm nuts or corn bran depending on the feeding and behavioral characteristics of the target fish species. The castnet fishery is probably the next most damaging fishing method to juvenile fish after beach seines (du Feu and Abiodun, 1999). It caught 34% of the total tilapines, 24% Citharinus and 19% of all Labeo, at a mean size upto 50% less than gillnets in the case of Citharinus. This study therefore intends to assess the effects of two baits rice bran (Oryza sativa L.) and corn bran (Zea mays L.) and, without baits on the efficiency of castnet in Lake Kainji. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was conducted in the lower basin of Lake Kainji about 6.5 km away from the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New Bussa, Niger State, between July and August, 2008. The description of study area is adequately made in Ahmed et al, (2006). The castnet construction was followed by the same method that was used by Udolisa et al. (1994) and Udolisa and Solarin (1979). Two types of baits were used corn bran and rice bran, and casneting without bait was used as control. A net was cast, a waiting period of five minutes was observed to allow the weight to settle to the bottom of the sampling areas. The net was pulled with both hands to retrieve it. The experiment was Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications for nineteen consecutive fishing days. The fish caught were packed in separate labelled container for each treatment.