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cjlandry

I'm thinking of soaking some live bait this weekend, and want to know the best to buy.

Also, are the bait shops open at 4am, or should I pick up the bait the night before?
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Chad Landry

"Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"

Big John at work · Guest

Hey CJ,

The best bait to catch specks on is croaker. They love them things.

As for what time the bait shops open, I'm not sure they are open that early. If you're fishing the weekend, I'd call ahead and reserve what you need, so it'll be there when you get there.

Croaker tend to be the first live bait that sales out because they are so effective. When you call, check to see what time they open up.

Where you planning on fishing CJ?

cjlandry · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 6:48 pm Post subject:

Planning on fishing Brown & Root flats again. I have a few spots there that haven't failed me yet for speckled trout using DOA shrimp under a rattling cork. I plan to soak some bait on one rod while working a lure with the other.

Of course, everytime I plan something I end up getting a service call. So I'm not really "planning" this one, in hopes that it will change my luck and I'll actually get to wet the kayak.
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Chad Landry

"Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"

SurfMeister · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 6:54 pm Post subject: Clem's!

Clem's marina usually always has croaker in the mornings. I would say that 80-90 percent of people actually buy shrimp because they are cheaper. I use croaker this time of year for trout in the surf and always just buy a dozen. I caught just as many croaker in the surf using sabiki rigs tipped with fish bites. I also bring my cast net along for other baits as well as croaker. I have never been to Clem's and had them been out of croaker. Piggy perch will work also. IMPORTANT NOTE ON CROAKER! If you don't have some type of portable livewell, you mine as well throw you money out the window. A five gallon bucket with a battery-powered bubbler will work or if you have the money a Keep-Alive bait tank keeps croaker alive for long periods of time. Sorry for the long response, but if there is one thing I know about fishing is how to fish with live bait....just ask Tyler. SM Wink

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cjlandry · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tip on keeping 'em alive. I'm about to pick up a 2-gallon Rubbermaid drink dispenser and convert it to a live-well for the kayak. I plan to mount a battery powered bubbler to the side of it.

I might just go to Academy in the morning to see if they have anything that will work just as well for as little money.
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Chad Landry

"Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"

Lat22 · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:34 pm Post subject:

I've never been able to keep those dudes alive without oxygen. They wouldn't last in my "cool bubbles" bucket.

SurfMeister · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:56 pm Post subject: Change The Water in the Livewell

You have two choices for the cheaper livewells. You can change the water on a regular basis. (1 hour works for me) Or you can buy something called Croaker Saver or Foam Off. The little buggers pee and poop in the water and well......you get the picture. If you are going to fish from the yak you just need something to get them from the bait stand to your fishing spot. Once there you could just you use a bait bucket. I fish from my truck and the keep alive bait tanks are the bomb. Change the water and have not lost a croaker yet. But hey my tank is 20 gallons!!! Croaker sure beat having piggies eating all of your shrimp. With that being said, I remember a couple of times being in the surf with live croaker and mullet and caught nothing while others were catching limits of schoolies with shrimp. Damn trout can get finicky at times, but croaker and trout are natural enemies. Croaker eat trout eggs and trout don't put up with that nonsense. I have fished a single croaker for up to an hour before switching baits. Good Luck, SM Smile

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That's why they call it fishin', not catchin'

cjlandry · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 8:48 pm Post subject:

I just got the setup for my kayak. It's a soft-sided cooler with a hard plastic insert that will hold plenty of water. It's big enough for the Yellow Frabill bait bucket to fit inside. And it has pockets to hold the bubble-box and whatever else I want to put in those pockets.

I figure I could put 'em in the yellow bucket, and keep the yellow bucket in the aerated cooler while paddling, then hang that bucket over the side when I'm fishing.

I guess I won't be keeping them overnight this way though. Oh well, gotta come up with another plan for the early morning run. Maybe I could keep 'em in a full-sized cooler overnight and then transfer them to this rig when I hit the water.
_________________
Chad Landry

"Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"

daveyboy · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:09 pm Post subject:

If the croaker is small i wouldnt buy them

rabbit · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 4:47 am Post subject:

Thats why we dont have big croaker runs any more Sad

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SurfRunner · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 5:49 am Post subject:

IMHO, I think right now, live shrimp is your best bet for live bait. When the water starts getting hot here in a couple of weeks, croaker.

tyler · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 6:30 am Post subject: Re: Clem's!

cjlandry · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 6:48 am Post subject:

Here's my new bait tank for the kayak:

Hope it works.
_________________
Chad Landry

"Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"

Gibson241 · Guest

With croaker, a lot of the bait stands keep them in "cool" tanks. Be mindful not only of their deposits, but also the temperature of the water in your bait bucket.

It does not take long this time of year for those buckets to heat up especially when sitting in the sun on top of metal or fiberglass. An occassional water change should remedy any problems.

In cooler months, I know croaker not available, but shrimp can stay in bucket with a battery powered aerator for hours.

One of those bubbles areator can run 24 hours for several days before batteries run out of juice.

By the way, if you have one of those and they stop working, it usually is in the on/of switch. Best thing to do is cut the wires to the switch and wire them to each other. Your on/off switch becomes the batteries, in or out. Batteries need airing out after a day of fishing anyway.

Also, periodically the electric motor needs a drop of oil.

I have had mine for some 4 years and still going.

RedFish Chaser

CJ,

Good looking bait set-up. Good luck in trying to lug and handle in taking bait container on a yak. I prefer to use my cooler for nice cold Powerades to help dissicipate the sweltering heat. Cool

I don't use live bait, just lures, but I know this. Clem's and CosWay usually open back up for servicing the fishing guides at 4 a.m. The guides usually pull up around 4:30 or so to get all of their bait for the runs. Some times the wait to get bait can be long. Usually, it doesn't seem to bad for non-guides to get bait.

For me, I like using the soft plastics - 5" sand eels. But, what the heck do I know! Experiment with color choices depending on clarity of the water, current/no current, and local hole conditions (e.g., grassy, muddy, oyster bed). Besides plastics, I'll be using flies if the wind isn't significant and if I'm patient enough to hook up using fly equipment. Mike and Rockie at Roy's know their stuff, especially what's been hot for catching fish! Roy's is an official weigh station for the CCA tourney. Now, I just have to Chase that special RedFish this weekend. Wink

Good luck.
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