Rick Hale
Rick’s Bait Shop
904.372.4689

"Mister Joe's Journal" from the Fishing Connection

Hello Anglers, what is the definition of an angler you ask? Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" (fishhook).  The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod.  Modern fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and casting out the line.

Now that we have that out of the way let's continue with a few Live Bait Tips.

When you think about live bait, you think of LIVE SHRIMP!

Live shrimp is a fantastic form of bait to use and you can catch many species of fish with this creature.

We all know that shrimp are not free.  They can cost anywhere from $3.00 to $4.50 per dozen.  That's roughly 25 to 38 cents per shrimp.  So, you are going to want to keep them alive as long as possible.  In order to do that, you need to follow these steps:

1. Oxygen / Aeration - Shrimp are living creatures and need oxygen to live.  So, an appropriate size aerator that fits the size of the bucket your using, is very important.

2. Keep the Water Cool.  Hot water kills shrimp.  Ice will work just fine.

3. Keep the water clean.  Shrimp can "stink up" a bucket or a live well if dead shrimp are allowed to remain.  Remove a dead or dying shrimp so it does not contaminate the rest of your bait.

4. Use a Dip Net to avoid contaminating the water.

5. Know how many shrimp your bucket can safely hold and don't overfill it.  Too many shrimp in the water means some of them will start to die quickly and when one dies others will soon follow.

6. Be sure to buy solid gear, even if you just use an old bucket.

Hope these tips are helpful.