What is the best way to keep mullet alive overnight?
I am also interested in a bait pen for the dock. It seems that some areas here have too MUCH water flow and the bait gets weak/tired and dies even when fed.
Anyone had any luck keeping bait in a pen on the dock around here? Primarily menhaden and blue runners and the like.
I’ve been looking at the Beach Marine bait pen but they are PRICEY…but I’m willing to spend the $ if its necessary or worth it.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
I have a bait pen and use it often. Have never had luck with keeping menhaden alive as they just dont seem hardy enough but mullet of all sizes will stay alive for multiple days.
We just built a bait pen to take to the keys. $39 in supplies and it’s massive and collapses. It’s 60”x24” length and width oval and is 48” deep. It calculates out to about a 270 gallon bait tank! It’s made out of pvc/pex, mesh that holders pavers together, a pool noodle and hundreds of zip ties.
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Mike Martinez
"Team Hookers Dream”
2017 Robalo R302 twin 300 yams “Roballin”
My bil uses a 55 gallon plastic drum with holes drilled in it attached to his floating dock.Swift current is not an issue. I know he keeps skrimps but menhaden would be the test.And Florida,please post a picture of this contraption you all made.
I have one made out of a 55 gal drum with holes drilled in it with a brick bolted to the bottom and a large pool noodle zip tied to the top
have a trap door cut in the top with a good hasp to keep the darn otters out. have kept menhaden for a day in the spring before the water gets hot. Stay in a house at Mccllenville that had one made in the dock. worked great!
quote:
Originally posted by smanMy bil uses a 55 gallon plastic drum with holes drilled in it attached to his floating dock.Swift current is not an issue. I know he keeps skrimps but menhaden would be the test.And Florida,please post a picture of this contraption you all made.
Here is a pic of it collapsed. I’ll have to get one of it extended when I get home.
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Mike Martinez
"Team Hookers Dream”
2017 Robalo R302 twin 300 yams “Roballin”
Frabill makes a floating bait pen that’s collapsible.
If you can get a 30-55 gallon plastic drum. Get a submersible sump pump, cut in an overflow drain and a bottom drain. Keeps menhaden and mullet alive for days.
Ya know, it must be nice living in Neverneverland. Remind me to come visit you, when I need a break from reality.
Awesome looking pen. Guessing you have hole in bottom PVC to allow water in??
NN
quote:
Originally posted by DoubleNAwesome looking pen. Guessing you have hole in bottom PVC to allow water in??
NN
Yep. Was going to add wait to get it to sink but it does it quickly with the holes.
Pretty impressive bait pen
Ya know, it must be nice living in Neverneverland. Remind me to come visit you, when I need a break from reality.
You’ll find out quickly if you have otters around with a “soft” bait pen
quote:
Originally posted by ReelescapeYou’ll find out quickly if you have otters around with a “soft” bait pen
Never seen an otter in the Florida Keys.
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Mike Martinez
"Team Hookers Dream”
2017 Robalo R302 twin 300 yams “Roballin”
A buddy made a pen similar to FloridaBoy2’s for us to use during FIshing for Miracles tourney years ago. We stocked it with 4 dozen quality mullet and tied pen to a dock. Feeling extra proud, we visited the pen after dinner before bed. We found was one VERY FAT gar had broke in and devoured the entire stach. He was so fat, he just waddled away and sank to the bottom.
I use one of those orange baskets like you use for shrimp. Made a wood top attached with zip ties and a pool noodle. Hooks on to the dock and will keep mullet alive for several days and shrimp for weeks. I have never once had a menhaden survive the night in any situation. I have a 50 gallon high flow live well on the offshore boat and still they all die overnight.
quote:
Originally posted by CbyteA buddy made a pen similar to FloridaBoy2’s for us to use during FIshing for Miracles tourney years ago. We stocked it with 4 dozen quality mullet and tied pen to a dock. Feeling extra proud, we visited the pen after dinner before bed. We found was one VERY FAT gar had broke in and devoured the entire stach. He was so fat, he just waddled away and sank to the bottom.
Now that would suck!!!
Whats that mesh made of, FB??
NN
quote:
Originally posted by DoubleNquote:
Originally posted by CbyteA buddy made a pen similar to FloridaBoy2’s for us to use during FIshing for Miracles tourney years ago. We stocked it with 4 dozen quality mullet and tied pen to a dock. Feeling extra proud, we visited the pen after dinner before bed. We found was one VERY FAT gar had broke in and devoured the entire stach. He was so fat, he just waddled away and sank to the bottom.
Now that would suck!!!
Whats that mesh made of, FB??
NN
Hell if I know. Buddy is in landscaping and said that’s what holds the bundles of pavers together. It’s a heavy duty plastic with very small holes. About the size of 1/8’ mesh.
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Mike Martinez
"Team Hookers Dream”
2017 Robalo R302 twin 300 yams “Roballin”
I’ve had 2 different bait pens in the Keys that got a hole torn in them from something. Maybe an eel? One was wire and the other nylon.
John
2019 Hewes 18 Redfisher, 150 SHO
Plastic Hardy cloth