Instrument and method for preparing plug-cut bait

One aspect of the invention is a entrails removal instrument for making a hollow cavity in the gut of a bait fish such as a herring, including: an elongate body having two straight parallel longitudinal sides, said body forming a curved groove between said longitudinal sides; an end section, said end section extending from said elongate body and tapering in width to a rounded point; and a plurality of tines emanating from a surface of the instrument, wherein at least one tine of said plurality of tines emanates from the end section and is directed away from the rounded point and towards the elongate body, wherein said entrails removal instrument is adapted to fit into the body of the bait fish and form a hollow cavity when inserted into the body, rotated and removed.