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Keeping Greenbacks (bait) alive

Posted on 4/10/14 at 1:40 pm
Posted by TheOcean
#honeyfriedchicken
Member since Aug 2004
42486 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 1:40 pm
Anyone have any tricks/tips? Before I wade out I hit a fishing pier and sabiki greenbacks. Unfortunately by the time I get to go wade out, most are already dead (~15-20 minutes).

Any ideas on how to keep them alive?
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
17320 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 2:01 pm to
What exactly is killing them? What are you keeping them in?
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6840 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 2:11 pm to
I used to cast net greenbacks in Tampa Bay to use as live bait. The ONLY way I kept them alive was this kind of minnow bucket which was left submerged except when filling with bait:


Even still, half of them died. I definitely noticed a correlation between how much I handled them and how likely they were to survive any length of time.
Posted by DonChowder
Sonoma County
Member since Dec 2012
9249 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 2:12 pm to
quote:

Greenbacks
As in sardines? Thread fin herring? Which species are you talking about?
Posted by TheOcean
#honeyfriedchicken
Member since Aug 2004
42486 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 2:17 pm to



I use the baitbucket above. Would an aerator help? I know they're very fragile baitfish. Also, this might be a dumb question, but can you keep them with shrimp?


quote:

Even still, half of them died. I definitely noticed a correlation between how much I handled them and how likely they were to survive any length of time.


Yup, I noticed that too. And unfortunately, I'm doing this from a pier. It takes me a solid 15-20 minutes to get from the pier to wading out.
This post was edited on 4/10/14 at 2:19 pm
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6840 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 2:26 pm to
quote:

Yup, I noticed that too. And unfortunately, I'm doing this from a pier. It takes me a solid 15-20 minutes to get from the pier to wading out.

There's your problem. The walk from the pier to wading out is sloshing around the greenbacks too much and killing them along with sitting in overheated, reduced oxygen water. They need more, cooler, better oxygenated water.

In that case do this: Get a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and an aerator. This one is called a "Bubble Top"


Fill it with water from around the pier (use a long rope to lower it down and fill it if you have to). If you're sabiki-ing for any length of time either refresh the water or add a little ice. This all should help increase their longevity. When you get down to wading, transfer them to the smaller minnow bucket with the holes in it and keep it submerged next to you.
Posted by DonChowder
Sonoma County
Member since Dec 2012
9249 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 2:34 pm to
Are you using barbless sabiki hooks? I've found that some bait fish cant really handle the barb and the touching. I've used a butter knife to "flip" them off into the bait bucket to avoid touching them and removing some of their protective slime. That seems to help.
Posted by TheOcean
#honeyfriedchicken
Member since Aug 2004
42486 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 2:36 pm to
So basically the frabill aint gonna cut it size wise? I already have an aerator
Posted by TheOcean
#honeyfriedchicken
Member since Aug 2004
42486 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 2:36 pm to
quote:

've used a butter knife to "flip" them off into the bait bucket to avoid touching them and removing some of their protective slime.


That's awesome, I'll give it a shot
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6840 posts
Posted on 4/10/14 at 2:55 pm to
quote:

So basically the frabill aint gonna cut it size wise? I already have an aerator

The frabill will be fine once youre wading, but without constant water refreshing, added to the fact that sloshing them around when you're walking from the pier to start wading, no the frabill ain't gonna cut it. The frabill also has corners and sharp angles which are more likely to kill the fish when sloshing. The 5 gallon bucket doesn't have corners for them to get smashed into. I know that sounds ridiculous but it is true.
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