Any of you guys try any of the Herring from the new shop on Shore road called JC’s Outdoors?
They posted on Facebook that they now carry live Herring for $8/dz … When I questioned why so much they responded with some “cured bait” response …
Here’s the exchange on FB:
Rick Sineath: $8.00??? Everyone else in Lexington (Ned’s, Lake World, Dooleys, George, David) is selling them for $6/dz and David sells to MSC Club members for $5/dz … Why so high?
JC’s Outdoors: Our bait comes from Lake Hartwell and is a cured bait and a really high quality bait. Being all of our bait is cured they will last a lot longer than most Lake Murray bait that is caught the night before and sold to you before being cured, meaning they will stay with you all day while fishing. The bait is bigger, stronger, and faster than most bait off of Murray. Most of the MSC members already fish with our bait. Please stop by and see for yourself why JC’s bait is the best.
Here’s my question: Have any of you guys ever gotten bait from these guys? If so, in your opinion, does it live up to the above description?
Cured bait is probably better than bait that has not cured yet but I would guess that most of the bait we use in the winter is cured. In the late spring/summer that’s probably not the case since bait is so easily caught on Murray and the bait men don’t have to stock up when they go to Clarks Hill. All that cured bait is is bait that has been in a good tank for a couple days to purge itself of the negative effects of being caught(scale/slime coat issues). Maybe I’m wrong but that’s what I’ve always known. I firmly believe that good bait will catch you better and more fish but the difference in herring can’t possibly be worth charging 60% more! If it were, everyone would just leave bait in their tank for a couple days before selling it.
Your right Shawn. Cured is just a matter of bringing the fish back down to normal stress range. After being caught they will stress/purge/loose scales-slime coat…A clean healthy tank and some salt help in getting the fish back to its normal self…on the other hand if fish sit too long in captivity they will slowly decline in quality no matter how clean a tank is.
I know these people are trying to do the right thing and open up a nice shop but I really don’t think they will be selling much bait out of there and I may be wrong. Also when someone offers a dz price and a half dz price that tells me I am getting 12 baits per dz. When is the last time any of us have ever gotten 12 baits in a dz…
One more last rant. Again I may be wrong here but I know who is supplying them and unless he has changed something he gets his bait the same place as david/ned/George. They aren’t coming out of hartwell. The bait may travel to hartwell but are coming from the Russell tail race just as 95% of SC’s bait does other than in the spring time. …
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
It’s his business decision to sell for what he wants… Competition and capitalism is a wonderful thing. Perhaps his location makes it worth the extra 2 bucks a dozen in his opinion. Maybe that coffee, and breakfast menu at JCs makes it worth the extra 2 bucks. He’s not catching his bait so he is paying for “shipping and handling” and for the wholesale price of the bait being caught. Someone sold him on the price of buying bait from Hartwell so he is just passing the story (and cost) along to you… I remember paying 10 dollars a dozen for Herring on Lake Lanier back in 2002 and then two other shops started selling Herring and a price war broke out…Eventually only two shops remained in business and the price settled at $6 a dozen. As a club, we need to patronize all of the bait shops when possible because if one seller ever takes over, the price will go up…
I have met the owner at JCs and bought other things from his business. He’s a super nice guy. I was very appreciative and still in awe of the firearms they donated to the Lake Murray Baptist Church for the Men’s Wildlife Supper for door prizes. I bet Richy Brensinger will agree…lol cause he got to take one home (assuming he passed the background check)
Cured bait has its advantages. But, if faced with a decision of buying cured bait, and catching fresh bait, or even buying fresh bait, I’m going with the biggest and prettiest color I can get. A few extra scales won’t bother me. Buying 4 inch herring when I could have bought 6 inch herring will bother me. I like to know what all the bait shops have. Sure, David may have to sell some fresh caught bait from time to time, but he wont ever have to wait for someone to catch it and bring it to him. If JCs runs out, then he’s out until they bring it from Hartwell.
Team Shad Up & Fish
If you’ve had fun catching fish on the transom bait, you are welcome…
I’ve spent about 85% of my life’s wages on fishing, the rest I just wasted…
I agree I stopped in a few weeks ago very nice people and a nice store I am all about fresh bait myself at the tournament 2 weeks ago I got the bait right off of Jimmy Jones boat he had just gotten back with them and they did great all bait on Clarks hill is 7 per dozen so I see where jc’s is coming from
The bait here in Prosperity is 7$ a dozen from George but you get well over a dozen for your money. If I buy four dozen I usually get 5 1/2 or 6 dozen. I guess I am spoiled but If I pay for bait and they count it out to the tee I feel violated. I guess what I am trying to say is if they dip a little heavy I dont mind the higher price.
Key West 1720 Sportsman
FISH: An animal that grows the fastest between the time it’s caught and the time you tell your friends about it!
I agree I stopped in a few weeks ago very nice people and a nice store I am all about fresh bait myself at the tournament 2 weeks ago I got the bait right off of Jimmy Jones boat he had just gotten back with them and they did great all bait on Clarks hill is 7 per dozen so I see where jc’s is coming from
Unless he has changed his prices, Rob Hedrick at The Bait Hole, sells bait for $5.00/dozen at the Hill, and he always has nice bait.
My apologies … My question was more towards whether or not anyone has actually bought Herring from them and if so, does it live up to the advertising … I really don’t care so much what he’s charging or why so long as his product is worth the price …
I have shopped at JC’s before, but not when they had Herring and I agree, they have good people working over there and they have some nice stuff …
I’m not trying to run the guy in the ground, I really want his bait to be what he says it is especially since he’s only a few minutes from my house and we use Koon’s Landing a lot …
Even if his bait was the SAME as what David/Ned/Richard are offering then I would consider the extra $2/3 based upon convenience, gas cost, and minimal damage to the bait during transportation …
I am simply asking if anyone has bought Herring and if so, what did they think of the bait …
I agree with Woody. As a live bait angler I welcome all the bait resources I can get. I want a smorgus board of choices…Chris is looking to get into the “quality” bait business and time will tell how that will play out. I may share some of the same concerns in this thread, but you know what…not my money and not my business, so I will continue to search for the best possible bait during key times of the year and that is where my $$ will be spent. I hope Chris can withstand the picky anglers but even if you don’t buy his bait…and you don’t stop in for a breakfast “Roll Up” you are missing out!! Chris is an outstanding guy and is very charitable within the community. Also if you are looking for Hebo gear he has the largest selection that I have seen with the exception of Clothing World.
Richy
“My biggest worry is that my wife (when I’m dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it.”
Tell us about that shotgun you won Richy…lucky dog! I had been looking for some ammo for my .380 ACP for weeks and he had it when nobody else in Lexington or Columbia did…Seems like somebody that wanted to be in the “gourmet” bait business would be selling them 6-8 inch Gizzard Shad.
Team Shad Up & Fish
If you’ve had fun catching fish on the transom bait, you are welcome…
I’ve spent about 85% of my life’s wages on fishing, the rest I just wasted…
Got bait from JC’s a couple of times (once 2 March and then again on 14 March) before Ned opened up for the year. The convenience was great and a real nice shop. Bait was above average in my opinion.
Price and quantity:
I agree he counted every bait. I wasn’t planning to fish long and only got $20 worth. I told them I wanted $20 worth and he counted out about 28 BB. Every time I have gotten bait from Ned and tell him $20 worth, I almost have to stop him for fear of filling tank too much.
Quality:
As mentioned the bait was above average in size and durability. Never lost a single bait in the tank during first trip. Bait size was on par with the other locations. Later this spring / summer will be the test when the temp gets up. Pretty easy to keep bait this time of year in my opinion.
One additional note: I normally fill my tank from the bait shop using their tank water. JC’s is a very clear color with not much chemical noticeable. Ned’s has a nice blue color with obvious salt etc. JC’s charges for additional salt where others do not. That could become an issue this summer and I imagine they will modify their business plan if they want to stay in business.
:
…I agree he counted every bait. I wasn’t planning to fish long and only got $20 worth. I told them I wanted $20 worth and he counted out about 28 BB. Every time I have gotten bait from Ned and tell him $20 worth, I almost have to stop him for fear of filling tank too much.
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I don’t know anything about the shop you guys are referring to, but in general, I think it is very understandable that any shop that is not catching their own bait is going to be much more conservative with the count than if you are buying bait from one of the guys catching it themselves. You have to remember they are paying $X.XX per dozen themselves. I usually buy straight from the bait guys, but before they shut down, I used to would occassionally buy some from Angler’s South when they were open because I would launch in Ballentine in the evenings and it was very conveniant. They also counted every one, but that was fine with me and I would would just account for that when I decided how many to buy.
I don’t know for sure, but I would guess the shops that sell herring that they buy don’t do it so much because they can make a killing selling herring. I would think it has to do just as much with drawing in customers who also wind up buying ice, gas, drinks etc…
My oh my oh my glad I’m not in the bait business. Some people are just to tough. Why not give the guy a break .They are trying to make a living .If you don’t like how they sell go some where else.No need for nit picking on this forum.This is MIDLANDS STRIPER CLUB. I’m sure y’all know what I mean. cell# 803 309 1901’Tom Gitto
TOM GITTO
Team Shad Up and Fish member
20ft Sea Hunt cc Red T Top
I also have a problem with the direction this thread has taken. Whether we share or disagree with some of the opinions, this forum is not a place to discuss it. On another board I frequent, any posts that are negative and potentially detrimental to an individual, business, or club are deleted. I agree with the policy, and that’s why I choose not to comment on the above.
I am with Tom Gitto and my teammate Fogman. Let the Baitmen charge what they want, or count them or scoop them. The market will level the playing field.
[sigh] … I just want to know what the quality of the bait is …
Surely it can’t be that difficult to answer since … and I quote … “Most of the MSC members already fish with our bait” …
So far only one person has actually answered that question …
One response is not enough to make a proper comparison … and before someone tells me to go shop for myself, I already have and I’m reserving judgment pending responses from other people … But I digress …
It’s simple … The response is either “No, I’ve never purchased bait” … or … “Yeah, I purchased bait and it was …”
If others want to weigh in regarding the price structure, then that is their prerogative and to be honest I don’t find anything wrong with that … Not sure why that is a problem … Since I am a first year member then I can leave room in my mind that there may be certain “unwritten” rules so if someone would care to enlighten me then please feel free to do so either publicly or privately …
Otherwise, I really would like to know what experience, if any, members have had with the herring … Thanks for the input …
