Photo by Tom Brandt
Freeze Your Own Quality Baitfish
Whether you are trolling offshore or cut-baiting for catfish, the freshest baitfish possible increases the odds for success. Netting live bait is not always an option. Or maybe you’ve got a livewell full of baitfish at the end of a trip? It’s a shame to throw out good bait. Here’s a time-tested recipe for preserving bait so it comes out of the freezer as fresh as possible.
The most important step to quality frozen baits is to freeze them fresh and to bring their temperature down as quickly as possible. The key is to be prepared. Have a cooler, several bags of ice and some sea salt ready. Alternate layers of fish and ice in the cooler, and sprinkle the ice with salt. This will bring the temperature down more quickly than ice alone. The bait will stay fresh on the ride home, and it will also be on its way to freezing by the time you get there.
If you’ve got a vacuum sealer, use it, sealing the chilled bait in small batches and single layers. Do the same if you’re using freezer bags, and try to squeeze or suck all the air out. If you can, avoid stacking baitfish bags in the freezer. Space them out as best you can, and they will freeze more quickly. They can be stacked once they are frozen.
When it comes to thawing bait, those small batches will come in handy. Thawing only what you need at the time will keep the rest fresh for when they are needed. Saltwater anglers should thaw baits in a bucket of iced seawater. Freshwater anglers can do the same with water from the lake or river they are fishing.