Spot for bait, no go

[paxmule]

My bait shop was out of bunker yesterday and I didn't have time to throw the net so I settled for frozen spot. It didn't do me too well. I hate using frozen bait. Fished lower marlboro for 4 hrs today, came up with 4 eaters. Probably my worst trip of the year. I'll get back at it next week with fresh bait.

[Jigsup]

Ah man. Least you caught. I agree fresh is much much better. Even though I have caught big ones and eaters off frozen bait during the winter, I’ll always look for fresh before heading out. I have noticed that vacuum sealed tend to be a little better than freezer bags.

[ski357]

Paxmule-if you're in or near St. Mary's, have you tried Kellam's in Ridge? They may or may not carry what you want.

[Slackdaddy]

My bait shop was out of bunker yesterday and I didn't have time to throw the net so I settled for frozen spot. It didn't do me too well. I hate using frozen bait. Fished lower marlboro for 4 hrs today, came up with 4 eaters. Probably my worst trip of the year. I'll get back at it next week with fresh bait.

Are you typ using fresh "Cut" bait,, or "Live lining" - Live bait ?

[paxmule]

Have not been to kellams. My spot is normally stocked, they just happened to be out Friday. I can always just throw a net. I live within walking distance of pax marina. I typically use fresh cut bait here. Back home in illinois I always use at least one rod with cut gizzard shad and 1 rod with live sunfish or bluegill.

[dsaavedra]

What bait shop do you buy fresh bunker from? Ever shop around me only carries it frozen. At one shop in particular it is terribly freezer burnt, I'm thinking they haven't stocked new bait in the freezer in years. I won't be going there anymore, not for bait at least.

[paxmule]

The tackle box in lexington park. Probably a hike for you so if you were to go there, i would definitely call ahead first. This is my first season here so i'm not sure if they get scarce in colder weather or not. I have a marina within site of my house here on base so this week, i'm gonna go down there and throw the net around and see if i can start getting my own here. Back home i would never go to bait shops, always just threw my net under bridges and got gizzard shad on almost every toss. I'm still learning this area. I'll probably have it all figured out just in time to get sent somewhere else in a few years.

[Jigsup]

The only bait shops I know of that carries fresh is Anglers in Annapolis or The tackle box in Lexington Park. I’ve researched this area during the winter season to find fresh to no success. Some places I’ve called were closed and some only carry frozen if they had any in the winter. I don’t mind frozen in the winter if it’s all I can get. Just depends how the bait looks. I sift hard through what the shop has to try find decent bait. If they look too rough I walk out. The best I’ve found is to vacuum seal the fresh ones I do get during the late summer. Vacuum sealed seems to work out much better than just freezing in a bag. Or catch some bluegill from a pond somewhere before heading out.

Throwing a cast net would probably be your best option in the winter for fresh. If someone is selling fresh alewives in our region during the winter please let me know!

[J.A. Veil]

If you can get to know a local waterman who works pounds nets, you can buy direct from him. Years ago, I stopped by LJ Marina in Annapolis (next to Cantler's crab house). The owner, Leo James, is a commercial waterman. He sold me several fresh menhaden he had harvested that morning. I caught catfish at Mattawoman on that bait the following day.

[paxmule]

Tackle box had a fresh supply of bunker today, and also some VERY large shad.