Photo by James Florence
We tend to know red-bait as a wall-covering mass of dull-brown, twin-towered "things", which, if anything, are rather convenient to hang on to in a surge - which, given that they prefer areas with plenty of surge, makes them quite useful. Even though it tends to occur in such large congregations, it is actually a solitary animal - many other species of sea-squirts (Ascidians), of which red-bait is a member, are colonial - see the 27 December 2005 entry in the Question and Answer section. The individual shown must be quite large, if the covering of anemones is anything to go by. Clearly shown are the two siphons, one of which draws in water, and the other expells it. In-between the water is filtered of particles, on which it lives. While it can actively suck in water, being in a surgy area obviously helps in bringing in more nutrients. It is a hardy animal, capable of withstanding strong water movement, and even exposure to air at low tide. Fishermen know it as useful bait, and any damaged individuals are quickly consumed. They also form ideal hiding places for klipfish and crabs.
Two Oceans, A guide to the marine life of Southern Africa, GM Branch, CL Griffiths, ML Branch and LE Beckley, 1994.