Keeping Your Live Bait Alive!

Article by: Captain John Carty

On the piers they are catching a few Flounder, some Blue Fish, small Spots and Croakers. In the surf, people are catching Flounder, a few Virginia Mullet, small Puppy Drum, Blue Fish, Croakers and sharks. Inshore, the Flounder fishing has picked up a little bit. Still a few Red Drum in the waters. Good catches of Speckled Trout, small Spots and Croakers along with plenty of sharks. Offshore, people are catching King Mackerel and Dolphin. On the ledges, they are catching nice Grouper, Black Bass, grunts, and a mixed bag of bottom fish. This week’s fishing tip is on how to keep your live bait alive for the whole day. Some minnows – like mud minnows – are easy to keep alive. You can put them in a bucket and as long as they don’t get overheated they will stay alive. Mullet minnows are a little harder to keep alive, but they are very effective bait. They are very visible, oily and very plentiful. There are three things that are very important to keep your bait alive. Aeration, constant circulation, and water temperature. Circulation is very important to maintain a constant water temperature. A lot of bait systems will not pump while the boat is moving. It is very important to have a pickup tube so when the boat is moving the water will be forced into the tube and your live bait system. Just five minutes without proper circulation will kill Menhaden. If you have any questions on your live bait systems, stop by Island Tackle and Hardware. Ask for Dennis or Wesley. They will look at your live well and show you just how to hook up a pickup tube. It will make the difference. Keep fishing and be safe. Captain John Carty Affordable Charters

Rob and Ashley caught Flounder, Drum and large Blue Fish on June 29, 2006 aboard Affordable Charters.

 
Mike and Ed with Drum, Blue Fish and Virginia Mullet. Caught aboard Affordable Charters.

[tags]fishing,carolina beach fishing,carolina beach fishing reports,fishing north carolina[/tags]