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Diminutive swimmers baiting greater ones (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sprats

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'ones' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I cannot see how they can define each other.

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for sprats that I've seen before include "Small fishes used to catch larger ones" , "Small fish like sardines" , "Couple fussy about meat" , "Small fish used to catch larger ones" , "Small fish, set to catch whales" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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