Synonyms
Definition
The active placement or manipulation of edible or inedible items, to attract or distract potential prey, facilitating prey capture.
Introduction
Bait fishing is a rare form of tool use that has been observed primarily among herons (family Ardeidae), as well as a small number of other water birds (Ruxton and Hansell 2011). It involves the placement of a buoyant object on the surface of a body of water, which serves to attract or distract fish, and potentially increases the chance of capturing prey when fishing. The objects used as bait are often food items – such as insects or bread – that are highly attractive to fish, but small inedible items, including sticks or feathers, can also be used. In clear instances of bait fishing, birds will bring items to the water that they found elsewhere (Lovell 1958), or they will keep the floating item within striking distance by actively repositioning the item before it drifts out of reach.
To date,...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Dinets, V., Brueggen, J., & Brueggen, J. (2015). Crocodilians use tools for hunting. Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 27(1), 74–78.
Gavin, M., & Solomon, J. (2009). Active and passive bait-fishing by black-crowned night herons. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 121(4), 844–845.
Higuchi, H. (1986). Bait-fishing by the green-backed heron Ardeola striata in Japan. Ibis, 128, 285–290.
Higuchi, H. (1988). Individual differences in bait-fishing by the green-backed heron Ardeola striata associated with territory quality. Ibis, 130(1), 39–44.
Levey, D., Duncan, R., & Levins, C. (2004). Animal behaviour: Use of dung as a tool by burrowing owls. Nature, 431, 39–39.
Lovell, H. B. (1958). Baiting of fish by a green heron. The Wilson Bulletin, 70(3), 280–281.
McMahan, E. A. (1982). Bait-and-capture strategy of a termite-eating assassin bug. Insectes Sociaux, 29(2), 346–351.
Mendes, F., Martins, L., & Pereira, J. (2000). Fishing with a bait: A note on behavioural flexibility in Cebus apella. Folia, 71(5), 350–352.
Ruxton, G. D., & Hansell, M. H. (2011). Fishing with a bait or lure: A brief review of the cognitive issues. Ethology, 117(1), 1–9.
Shumaker, R. W., Walkup, K. R., & Beck, B. B. (2011). Animal tool behavior: The use and manufacture of tools by animals. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Jelbert, S. (2016). Bait Fishing. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3165-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3165-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences