Took the family to Edisto last week for our yearly trip. Stayed at a deep water creek house that was spot on for bait and trout. Got more rays than you could imagine. So here’s my question, we got lots of shrimp and finger mullet, but couldn’t keep them alive. The water temp was pretty high so I assume the higher temps killed the o2. Even keeping fresh water on them didn’t work. Moved to the floating minnow bucket with the same results. I took a minnow trap and put the bait in it and dropped it down to the bottom, 15’ down; bait lasted much longer, but still high mortality rate for the time. Tried ice in the bait tank as well.
Any suggestions?
The only way I can keep mullet and shrimp alive this time of year is in a large bait cage or my 40 gallon bait well with new water being pumped constantly. Bait buckets or even 5-gallon buckets with 3/8 holes drilled into them do not work with water temps into the 80s.
I’ve had good luck keeping shrimp and small mullet alive all day with ice and one of the cheap aerators in a 5 gal bucket, as long as it’s not to crowded. Change the water and add more ice periodically. I really think the aeration is key, like you said no amount of fresh water seems to help when it’s this hot.
Angler 204 FX
Yamaha 150
I had the same problem in Edisto a couple of weeks ago. The water was just so warm. I think wolfie is right, a little ice to keep temps down would probably help.
Need to move a lot of water through there …
In my experience, dead or live doesn;t matter (here goes a whole discussion), as long as its fresh. Keeping it alive keeps it fresh. If it dies, it can go bad quickly.
Next tip - my wife and I both contracted Mycobacterium marinum from shrimp. Bad ju ju …
It attacked my left index finger (callous from golf) and grew a nasty mess on there which the dermatologists at MUSC were able to kill with some pills.
MY wife nearly lost her hand. 4 doctors later, Dr. Jerry Sheally (awesome hand surgeon) cut her hand and wrist open and scraped the stuff out of her ligaments and saved her hand. He said another week or so and she would have LOST HER HAND.
SO … be careful. Rinse you hands a lot. Might keep Purell on board. If your bait dies and it gets stinky, toss it and get new bait.
Thanks, Captain Ross
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Pluffdaddy, which creek were you on? I’m going down in sept and will be staying in a house with a dock on a deep creek also, wondering if its the same one. Did you catch any fish? Thanks!
Wash your hands and feet in a solution of bleach and water…bleach kills EVERYTHING! Always used bleach and Dawn on the commercial boats to keep fish poisoning at bay.
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NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
wow, that’s scary stuff. I always figured there might be some nasties living on dead bait but I think I’ll be putting a bottle of purell and a jug of bleach solution on the boat now…[:0]
Angler 204 FX
Yamaha 150
Fm, we stayed on Bailey Creek at the ‘gone fishing’ house from Kapplyons. Been going to Edisto for 10 years and it has been one of the best homes for a boat. We were wearing the trout out 200 yards from the house.
TT - thanks for the heads up. That’s scary stuff. Never a bad thing to be safe when it comes to that bad bacteria.
I stayed down there two years ago at the end of August and kept shrimp, mm and fm alive all week. I have a well insulated livewell and a built in aereator on both livewells that is basically one of those Mr bubbles rigs. Just pushes air through a stone. Has worked real well on herring at the lake too. I will run in fresh water ever few hours and ice to keep the temp down. It worked real well, though.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
I keep a tube of neosporin in my first aid kit. If I get even a small scrape or nick, I rub some neosporin on it right away.
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
Doctor said you don’t even have to have a noticeable cut. Just as light abrasion or a shrimp horn can get you.
Like Sellsfish said above, the guys who fish for a living have to be very wary of this - hence the white boots, etc.
Thanks, Captain Ross
http://T-Topless.com folding, stainless steel T-Top fits most center console boats
http://ShadowTop.com entry level (Do-It-Yourself) T-Topless kit
http://Montauk-T-Topless.com for Boston Whaler Montauk, Dauntless or Outrage
http://Flats-Top.com Shade for Flats Boats
http://RNR-Marine.com/Canvas.shtml Original OEM factory replacement Sunbrella canvas for Sea Pro, Sea Boss, McKee Craft, Key West, Sea Hunt, Cobia, Sea Fox, Pioneer, Everglades, Tidewater & Palmetto Custom.</font id=“size1”>
Drop your top and go T-Topless! T-Topless@RNR-Marine.com