Beach worms are a type of worm that inhabit sandy beaches along the eastern and south-eastern coasts of Australia. They are from the family Onuphidae, also known as polychaete worms. There are three main species of beach worm that are harvested commercially and recreationally for bait in Australia: Australonuphis parateres, Paxton, 1979; slimy, redhead, bluey, bungum worm (only in South Australia), which can grow up to 300 centimeters in length. Beach worms have a muscular body that consists of hundreds of body segments and can vary in color from red to greenish on the head to a body of pearly white. They are omnivores, scavenging seaweed and animal matter that washes around in the drift zone of beaches.
Beach worms are highly valued as bait by anglers because of their great length and muscular body. They are blind but have a very good sense of smell, and eat decaying meat, fish, and seaweeds that have washed to shore. To catch beach worms, anglers generally wait for low tide and use a small piece of fish or meat to attract them to the surface, then remove them by hand or using special pliers.
