Saltwater fishing may require both fresh bait and artificial lures. While there are some times that a 16 ounce diamond jig sinking quickly to the bottom is sufficient to stir up school of bluefish, there are other times when fresh live bait is exactly what you are looking for.

Fresh bait can be extremely expensive and quite a nuisance. First you need to spend a small fortune at a live bait shop, and then you have to transport it to the boat to get to live fishing grounds. Unfortunately, all of this moving tends to upset the fresh bait, and by the time you arrive at your fishing spot, but they could be very stressed. This is of course assuming that you are able to find the live bait you with looking for at your local bait shop. There are times, when it’s preferable to gather your live 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.

Live bait is very helpful if you are fluke fishing as well. While it may be easier to use dead and frozen bait, live bait can often provide an edge over those who are fishing with frozen bait. Mummichogs are the preferred bait for summer flounder. They can easily be found in creeks, the mouths of rivers, and other shallow estuaries that are typically found along the coast. It is not unusual to find these mummies in marinas. Place a trap and simply put a can of wet cat food into your trap, and within 30 minutes if you’ve placed in the right spot you’ll have all the bait you need.

Another popular live bait is used for blackfish. This is the green or Asian crab. These are readily available in most fishing areas in the northeast. They are also typically readily available at bait shops but a word of caution – you need a lot of these. Blackfish are notorious for stealing bait and getting away with it. You are usually better off catching your own green crabs with the use of a cost effective crab trap. All you need for bait for a great catch is a filleted carcass of a fish and before you know it you’ll have a five gallon supply of these crabs for live bait.

While not everyone wants to take the time to catch their own bait, some find that it’s as much of a challenge as game fishing. It also allows you to learn more about the fish you intend on landing by learning the habits of their preferred prey. Not only can catching your own bait save you money, but it can help you become a better angler.

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 Saltwater Reels, Penn Reels, and Team Daiwa Reels.

1. Catching Bait for Your Fishing Trip
2. Fly Fishing For Beginners-Right Strategies And Ways For Catching Trout
3. UK Coarse Fishing Tackle: Particular Fish and Choosing the Right Bait
4. Striper Fishing with Live Bait
5. Catching & Cooking Crabs An Incident Of A Lifespan

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