Razor fish get their name form the similarity to the old cut throat razors.Not really a fish but a shell fish, they are a prized bait especially after a big blow that has disturbed the sea bed. There are 2 main types the common razor fish that grow up to about 12" and are straight in shape and the smaller sword razor that is more curved and only grows to 6".Very popular with those targeting cod, they make a good bait on its own but is more commonly used in a "cocktail bait" or for tipping off (a small bit on the end) a big worm bait.

Opening razor fish is very easy, simply pull the two halves apart with your fingers, this exposes a nice soft white flesh.Cut the flesh into whatever size matches the hook and put the hook in and out of it as normal, secure with a light binding of bait elastic (if you bind it too tight the elastic cuts through the flesh)

Some anglers let them go off slightly as they feel this only improves their fish catching powers and also firms up the flesh.They are an ideal bait for freezing as finding razor beds is quite hard and their locations are usually closely guarded secrets.

They live in burrows in the sand but the beds tend to be quite far out so are only available on the biggest spring tides.They live in beds and sometimes you will see them standing upright with a small section sticking out of the sand,they are very sensitive to pressures so if you approach them to heavy footed they will shoot back into the sand and they can be very quick moving, if you see them firmly grip the shell and gently pull, keeping an even tension, out it will come with a lovely white foot sticking out.They don't like the cold weather and when it is frosty they will burrow much deeper into the sand. More commonly all you will see are small holes in the sand surrounded by a shallow indentation, and it is easier to spot them by walking backwards, as you step over them they shoot a spout of water as they burrow to escape

If they are not showing like this you need to be a bit crafty, you need a strong salt solution in something like a large washing up liquid container with the squirty top, as your walking along you will sometimes see these shoots of water coming out of the ground, if you look closely you can see a small hole, this is its burrow and they live directly below this hole. Squirt some of the salty solution down this hole and carry on looking for the next one, after a whilst if you look behind you, you will see the razor sticking out of the sand, again its a relatively easy job to pull them gently but firmly from their burrow.

The easiest way to collect razors is after a good storm that coincides with a big spring tide that will leave them littering the shore line.It is much easier to collect them during the dark when they come nearer to the surface.