bait

[col]

Hi, have a couple of different questions I'm hoping ye can help me with

1) I want to transport frozen bait (sandeel) for about an 8 hour journey and be able to stick it into into a freezer still frozen (or as near to as possible) when I arrive at the destination Is this doable or is the bait going to inevitably thaw out? Thought about putting some individual ones in a thermos but it wouldn't hold much and I wouldn't know how to protect them from freezer burn when put back into the freezer(clingfilm maybe?). Any tips/suggestions?

2) Preserved bait. I'm talking about lazy lug/rag and the and the likes. Now, I have tried it and found it useless when general beach fishing but was wondering if the stuff is any good for wrasse? Have heard some reports say it's grand for them...

[Pat Spillane]

Hi Col,
I dont like any of the preserved baits, If you get as many freezer blocks as you can and use a freezer\cooler bag then you should get away with the transportation. I had frozen bait for 12 hours during the week using this method.

[MC]

Hi Col,
I dont like any of the preserved baits, If you get as many freezer blocks as you can and use a freezer\cooler bag then you should get away with the transportation. I had frozen bait for 12 hours during the week using this method.

second that,3/4 fill a plastic milk carton with water and freeze, the extra ice helps keep it longer in a cool bag, have done it many times, as for the lazy bait the only fish i can catch on it are coalies

[teacher]

Wrap it in newspaper as well ...

[eric]

when i was fishing for leinster a couple of years ago, ger doran introduced me to dry ice. you have to use gloves when handling it, but that plus a cooler box and you cant go wrong mate.

[beachcaster]

any of the above will work myself i use frezer blocks with the bait wraped in news paper and kept the cool box closed and seam taped till you get to where you are goiong and then into the freezer again.works for me all the time.cheers john

[nige]

leave your coolbag in the freezer for a few days before you go. Will also help

[Al]

Putting it in a thermos flask works really well too

[col]

Excellent advice and tips there people, thanks for your input

Another question If I catch some mackerel and plan to use them over the following few days is it best to freeze them or just put them in the fridge?

Thanks again

[stevecrow74]

leave your coolbag in the freezer for a few days before you go. Will also help

as nige says(i wonder where he heard about that one), best way to do it is put the bait in the freezer seperate.. let it completely freeze, then put an ice block into the bottom of the cooler bag then put your bait into it and another ice block into the top, then put back into the freezer, but dont zip it closed (leave the top open), when you need to transport the bait close the cool bag before removing from the freezer.. i have had bait frozen for 8hrs doing it that way..

or as Al said a thermos (put the thermos in the freezer for a couple of hours before you put frozen bait into it) just make sure it has a large opening or it might be hard to get the bait out, handy for frozen sandeels and razor..

If I catch some mackerel and plan to use them over the following few days is it best to freeze them or just put them in the fridge?

you can use them for up to 2 days when you put them in the fridge.. any longer your better off freezing them

[Cooke]

Hi Col : put the containers if possible into the freezer before the trip. As mentioned, soft drinks bottles filled with water and frozen are as good if not better than freezer packs. Fill the container, padding with newspaper if necessary and tape all seams. Assuming the bait was good quality before the trip it should be as good after.

Regarding mackerel, remember that east coast mackerel do not keep as well as their west coast relations and will deteriorate quicker.