Some Methods for Catching Bait

While bait choices often come down to personal preference,  there are many types of fishing that lend themselves far better to live bait than to top water plugs or heavy diamond jigs. The secret to success with live bait fishing is an understanding of where to find the right live bait for your needs. It is also important to know when frozen bait is sufficient and where live bait will do you more good.

In addition to the costly equipment that you already use for fishing, you can spend a small fortune purchasing live bait. In many cases, the only place to purchase it is a local bait and tackle shop. The problem then becomes is getting the live bait to your favorite fishing hole. Often by the time you arrive, your bait is listless from being so stressed out. In many cases, this can result in the bait not being able to be used immediately in which case you will have to catch your bait yourself.

Striped bass fishermen in the northeast have long known that their preferred diet consists mainly of menhaden. Known locally as “bunker”, these baitfish are plentiful in bait shops, but they are also fairly easy to catch with a snagging hook or a cast net.  The best part of this is that they can easily remain totally active and alive for several hours in a live well and are practically guaranteed to produce far superior results over frozen or dead bait (or lures).  While bunker are typically best fresh, leftovers can also be frozen and used during later trips, in the event that you’re unable to find fresh bait.

For those who enjoy fluke fishing, you’ve probably already discovered that Catching Bait fresh wins hands down over frozen or dead bait, or in fact over artificial bait. In fact, almost any angler will tell you that the opportunity to fish with live bait gives them an advantage over their fellow fisherman who have resorted to frozen bait or plugs. Fortunately for these anglers, fluke enjoy mummichogs (more commonly called mummies).  They’re easy to locate in river mouths, shallow estuaries and creeks along saltwater shores.  In fact, if you are fishing near a marina, you can easily use a minnow trap to get more mummies than you can use.  Simply drop the trap into an area where they are schooling with canned cat food in it and before you know it you’ll have hundreds of mummies.

Blackfish season in the Northeast means that many fishermen will be looking for green crabs. While they are easy to find in most bait shops, they tend to be rather expensive. The predicament comes in that blackfish are great at stealing this bait off the hook. Most anglers have discovered that in the long run, they will be far better off financially if they purchase a cheap crab trap. Rocks, jetties, docs, marinas and creeks are hiding spots for green crabs and Asian crabs. They swarm there in the thousands. It is not difficult to catch them, simply throw a filleted fish carcass into your trap and before you know it, you can fill a 5 gallon bucket.

If you are looking to save money on your fishing, catching bait will save you that money. Combine the savings features along with the thrill of the catch, and you may soon discover that you enjoy catching  bait as much as your game fish.
When you are out saltwater fishing it is important to make sure you have the right supplies. Some of the most popular brands include Shimano Reels, Penn Saltwater Reels, and Daiwa Reels.

Next session give Catching Bait a try, You might enjoy it.

Tags: Artificial Bait, Bait And Tackle, Bait Choices, Bait Shops, Baitfish, Bass Fishermen, Costly Equipment, Dead Bait, Diamond Jigs, Fellow Fisherman, Fishing Hole, Frozen Bait, Live Bait Fishing, Menhaden, Personal Preference, Preferred Diet, River Mouths, Small Fortune, Striped Bass, Top Water, Water Plugs