Closeup of 3 Australian Sardines (Pilchards)

Only Available In-Store Rainbow Beach

Iluka PIllies (IQF)

Fresh-caught Iluka Pillies, individually quick frozen for firm, quality bait. Available in 1/2kg, 1kg, 2kg and 4kg packs.

Fresh-caught Australian Sardines (Pillies) from Iluka
Great all-round bait for estuary, beach and offshore fishing
Idividually snap frozen so not stuck together
A way better quality bait than mushy old servo Pillies

BUY IN-STORE

0404 853 232

Availability

Available all year round - frozen.

Options / Sizes

1/2kg / 1kg / 2kg (bags) and 4kg (box)

Sourced From

Iluka, NSW

Buy IQF Pilchards Rainbow Beach and Fraser Coast Region

Fresh-Caught Iluka Pillies

You can't go past the old humble pillie. Our Iluka Pilchards are Australian Sardines, also commonly known as Mulies, Blue Pilchards or Bluebait. They're caught fresh around the Iluka and Clarence Coast fishery and frozen quickly to preserve quality and firmness.

A Proven Bait for the Fraser Coast

Although not local to the Rainbow Beach and Fraser Coast region, these pillies are still a top-notch proven bait for fishing here. Their oily flesh, strong natural scent and versatility make them one of the most reliable baits you can have in the freezer.

Individually Quick Frozen

These aren't your average servo frozen pillies. Our Iluka Pillies are individually quick frozen (IQF), so each pillie stays separate and firm rather than freezing together into a block. Take out exactly what you need and put the rest straight back in the freezer. Because they're so fresh, you can

Firm and Don't Fall Apart

The quick-freezing process helps maintain the quality and firmness of the fish, making them much better to work with than your average soft, mushy pillies from the servo that can fall apart as soon as you start rigging them.

A Great All-Round Bait

Pilchards are one of the most versatile baits you can use. They're equally at home in the estuary, off the beach or offshore, targeting everything from Bream and Flathead to Tailor, Snapper, Mackerel, Mangrove Jack, reef species and Tuna.

Available Sizes

Available in 1/2kg, 1kg and 2kg bags, or a 4kg carton, so you can grab enough for a quick session or stock up for a longer trip.

Buy Bait In-Store

TACKLE WORLD RAINBOW BEACH

1 Karoonda Road, Rainbow Beach QLD 4581

0404 853 232

info@tackleworldrainbow.com.au

Get Directions

Opening Hours

Monday7:00am - 5:00pm

Tuesday7:00am - 5:00pm

Wednesday7:00am - 5:00pm

Thursday5:00am - 5:00pm

Friday5:00am - 5:00pm

Saturday5:00am - 5:00pm

Sunday7:00am - 5:00pm

Drew on boat offshore posing with a massive Red Emperor and fishing rod he caught it on

Fishing with Iluka PIllies (IQF)

Drew's Recommendations

You can't go past the old humble Pilly. They're one of my go-to baits because they're oily, versatile and put plenty of scent into the water.

For smaller fish in the estuary or harbour, cut them into smaller chunks and use smaller hooks with little or no weight. For bigger Flathead, Jack, Cod, Grunter etc. try a half or whole Pilly on a single hook.

If you've got the wind behind you, Pillies can cast surprisingly well unweighted. Rig them head-first, or remove the head, and let the wind carry them past the closer breakers where bigger fish are feeding. It's a great way to present a natural floating bait if you can get away with using as little weight as possible.

A half-hitch around the tail can help keep a Pilly on longer, but when Tailor or Mackerel are around, their teeth can make short work of it. In those situations, keep them ganged for a more secure presentation.

The IQF freezing of our Iluka Pillies is another big advantage. Take out exactly what you need and leave the rest frozen, rather than thawing the whole bag every time you go fishing. No one likes a mushy old servo Pilly that falls off the hook, so they're definitely worth paying that little bit extra for. This is especially so if you're heading up to Fraser for the week, as they'll last longer in an esky/fridge, and Pillies over there are very expensive.

Owner of Gardiner's Tackle World Rainbow Beach

0404 853 232

LARGEST BAIT RANGE ON AUSTRALIA'S EAST COAST

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Only Available In-Store Rainbow Beach

Iluka PIllies (IQF)

Buy IQF Pilchards Rainbow Beach and Fraser Coast Region

Fresh-Caught Iluka Pillies

A Proven Bait for the Fraser Coast

Individually Quick Frozen

Firm and Don't Fall Apart

A Great All-Round Bait

Available Sizes

TACKLE WORLD RAINBOW BEACH

Opening Hours

Fishing with Iluka PIllies (IQF)

Drew's Recommendations

We’ll sort the bait. You make the memories.

LARGEST BAIT RANGE ON AUSTRALIA'S EAST COAST

IN-STORE BAIT

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