The hot dog is an all-time American favorite. Whether it be a baseball game or a backyard cookout, you will most likely find hot dogs being served as the main dish. Many anglers have wondered if hot dogs are a good option as bait. The answer might be a shock to you.

Hot dogs are good for saltwater fishing. Yes, you read that correctly. Hot dogs are known to do an exceptional job at bringing in the big ones. Now, the success rate is very high when inshore fishing with hot dogs, but the offshore rate is not quite as high. Typically when using a hot dog as bait, you think of an amateur fisherman who is just looking to spend some quality time with his kids on the water, but maybe he actually knew what he was doing in the first place. You know the strong greasy smell that omits out of the hot dog package upon opening? That’s the smell that the fish die for…literally. The strong, pungent odor attracts fish right to your hook. Another interesting observation about using hot dogs as bait is it seems that the cheaper the franks are, the better they work. On your next fishing trip don’t go for the high-dollar all-beef franks, go for the cheap ones! Hot dogs are particularly known to be great for catching catfish. It has been discovered that catfish love hot dogs more than almost any other bait. Sure you could do just fine with worms, but if the fish like it, why not use it? Letting your hot dogs sit out for a few days will also result in a better catch. The best part about using hot dogs as bait is that if you end up not catching anything, you already have dinner! If you’re inshore fishing and want a quick and easy form of bait that the fish love, go to the local supermarket and grab a package of your favorite franks. The results might just surprise you. Keep reading to learn the absolute best bait for saltwater fishing, and how to rig your hot dog.

The best bait for saltwater fishing
Maybe you are going offshore fishing and are wanting to use the best bait to insure a successful catch. We are going to find out what the best bait is for saltwater fishing.

The best bait for saltwater fishing is undoubtedly shrimp. Shrimp is the number one bait for catching saltwater fish. I mean, If I were a fish, I wouldn’t pass up a good juicy shrimp. When using shrimp, you will have luck with pretty much any type of saltwater fishing. Inshore, offshore, you name it, the fish of the ocean just can’t resist shrimp. The size of the fish you catch will depend on the size of the shrimp you use. Big fish will hit on bigger shrimp, and small fish will hit on smaller shrimp. Shrimp will catch almost any species of saltwater fish as well. From grouper to bass, shrimp will be sure to reel you in a big one. If you’re looking for the top bait for saltwater fishing, give shrimp a try. You won’t be disappointed.
How to rig a hot dog
Now that you’ve learned hot dogs are great for saltwater fishing, you might be wondering how to go about rigging one. Hopefully, this explanation will help you out.
There are multiple different ways to go about rigging your hot dog. Each method will depend greatly on what part of the day it is, and where the fish are at that time. If you are wanting to catch the bottom feeders such as catfish, letting your hot dog sink to the bottom would probably be your best option. If you’re looking for a different approach, a simple hook and bobber rig will do you just fine. Rigging a hot dog can be done just as you would rig any other bait. With the hook and bobber method, the hot dog basically just hangs in the water waiting for his next victim. The video below will be a great example of how to rig your hot dog.
Is sausage good for saltwater fishing?
Since we are on the topic of hot dogs, you might be wondering if sausage works as bait when saltwater fishing. Let’s dive in and find out.

Sausage does work for saltwater fishing. Using sausage might not bring in as great of a catch as hot dogs when saltwater fishing, but there definitely is some success. Your success of course depends on where you are fishing and what type of fish you are fishing for. Just like how catfish are very attracted to hot dogs, they are also extremely attracted to sausage. Vienna Sausages in particular are known to be a great choice of bait when fishing for catfish. Using sausage when offshore fishing would not be the best idea as deeper ocean fish tend to be much more attracted to bait such as shrimp and squid. Not to say that you will not catch anything, but probably not as much as you’re hoping for. Sausage is a great choice if you’re going for the bottom-feeding, saltwater cat, but if you’re wanting to take it offshore, it would be best to invest in a different form of bait.

Recap
Hot dogs are fantastic for inshore saltwater fishing. The best bait for saltwater fishing is definitely shrimp. Rigging your hot dog is very simple. You can either use a simple hook and bobber set up, or let your hot dog sink to the bottom. The video above is a great example of how to rig your franks. Sausage is good for saltwater fishing, especially catfish, just don’t take it offshore. I hope this post gave you some valuable tips about using hot dogs as bait. Have fun fishing with franks, and if ya have a bad day, just eat a hot dog. Happy Fishing!





