Anchovy go belly up - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

kayakfisherman · 09-24-2015, 01:53 PM

Dead anchovies?? Where's the frying pan!!!!

sandico · 09-24-2015, 02:33 PM

Stay away from the clear tanks. Transfers to much heat. Definitely run a 6volt battery and try not to fill up the tank with to much bait. Less is more. A lot of flow can stress the bait. Don't use to big of a pump, 360gph is good. Might also want to watch what level you put your drain. Every gallon of water is 8lbs!

Kerry
OEX MB

taggermike · 09-24-2015, 03:21 PM

An airator will not keep chovies alive. Dines or macs either. To keep bait healthy you need a flow of new water through the tank. Chovies are not per say weaker than other baits its just when you get a scoop, even 1 light pass kayak scoop, you can get up to 100 baits depending on bait size. Many small baits use more oxygen by weight than large fish. 10 1 lb fish will use much more O2 than 1 10 lb fish. And like others said, less can be more; fewer live and frisky baits are better than many lethargic baits. Rig up a bait tank or even a bait tube for nacks. Mike

hage0429 · 09-24-2015, 03:38 PM

I have a somewhat better bait tank set-up but have had similar issues. Biggest thing I've been able to do is not overload it in the first place. In my case even a half scoop of dines will be 100% dead in 30 minutes but if I get more like a quarter-scoop they will last all day.

Personally I just ask the bait guy to give me fewer. They won't charge you any less so if you want to get your money's worth bring a separate bucket to put the rest in, let them die without stealing oxygen from the rest, and use them for chum.

Good luck!

09-24-2015, 01:53 PM	#1
kayakfisherman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 715	Dead anchovies?? Where's the frying pan!!!!

09-24-2015, 02:33 PM	#2
sandico Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 94	Stay away from the clear tanks. Transfers to much heat. Definitely run a 6volt battery and try not to fill up the tank with to much bait. Less is more. A lot of flow can stress the bait. Don't use to big of a pump, 360gph is good. Might also want to watch what level you put your drain. Every gallon of water is 8lbs! Kerry OEX MB

09-24-2015, 03:21 PM	#3
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	An airator will not keep chovies alive. Dines or macs either. To keep bait healthy you need a flow of new water through the tank. Chovies are not per say weaker than other baits its just when you get a scoop, even 1 light pass kayak scoop, you can get up to 100 baits depending on bait size. Many small baits use more oxygen by weight than large fish. 10 1 lb fish will use much more O2 than 1 10 lb fish. And like others said, less can be more; fewer live and frisky baits are better than many lethargic baits. Rig up a bait tank or even a bait tube for nacks. Mike

09-24-2015, 03:38 PM	#4
hage0429 Junior Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 11	I have a somewhat better bait tank set-up but have had similar issues. Biggest thing I've been able to do is not overload it in the first place. In my case even a half scoop of dines will be 100% dead in 30 minutes but if I get more like a quarter-scoop they will last all day. Personally I just ask the bait guy to give me fewer. They won't charge you any less so if you want to get your money's worth bring a separate bucket to put the rest in, let them die without stealing oxygen from the rest, and use them for chum. Good luck!