Help with Live Bait

I usually get 50/person. Since it's only you, I'd get 50.

Minnows would hold up to the abuse of being dragged around a whole lot better than shrimp. And you will not keep croakers alive, at least not many, in that small bucket.

I know a few people that use the trolling buckets with success, but they do produce alot of drag when paddling. Easy solution to this is, as the above poster suggested, keep the bucket in the kayak while moving.

Or if you have the space, just convert a small cooler to a live bait bucket and put an aerator on it to keep the bait alive. I used a small Igloo cooler and it works great and keeps the water nice and cool throughout the day.



Alternatively, look up "bait tubes" that work very well for croaker. Keep in mind that croaker will die very quickly unless the water is continuously recycled.

Are there any trout where you plan on fishing? If not just bring a gold spoon to catch reds.

do a google search for a kayak bait tube. it will produce much less drag than one of those troll buckets. Croaker and shrimp will not survive being pulled around in one of those and when pulled up into the kayak there isn't enough water to left in it to keep enough croaker to matter. I usually go with minnows when in my kayak. They aren't always as effective as shrimp but cost less and last longer so to me it balances out. If fishing Golden Meadow, stop at Pip's (the Shell station near the public launch entrance), he's usually got some lively minnows that will last more than a day in nothing but a 5 gallon bucket and an aerator.

not really since like most everything else comes down to personal preference. I bought a kayak with a recirculating live-well built in so I wouldn't have to deal with this exact problem. Just remember that you want to limit the bait's ability to turn around too easily so longer is better than wider. I'm just guessing but I would think 50 minnows would easily fit in a 1.5" x 3' tube. The materials are cheap so if you F it up, it won't cost much to build a new one once you learn what you like and how it performs for your fishing style.

I have heard the bait tube sucks if you are war launching a distance away from the bait store. Be sure to get those little oxygen pellets on those types of trips.

Also, a rounded cap on the fore end is your friend.

Personally, I've never had trouble fishing with the bucket. Just get a good one that won't open up on you. Takes two seconds to attach and doesn't affect the drift of my boat at all the few times I've gone out with live bait.

Terry's Bait Shop in Leeville is your best option, pass up the turn for the new toll road by about 100 feet and his driveway is just before Gail's on the right. Moran's in Fourchon has bait but I refuse to do business with them for reasons that likely won't matter to you.