Anchovy will not last long

[anjcomp]

I have a square liquidfishing.com bait tank. I fish mostly at Dana Point. Anchovy all die in 5 hrs. Anybody having same problem ?.Sardine is fine.

Thanks
Dan

[bajadog]

Chovies always die faster than dines in any bait tank. Even on the big ones
on cattle boats.

[TheSherThang]

Having a square tank makes it a lot worse as the bait swims into the wall. Round tanks usually are gentler on the bait. Also, if you're using a 12v battery for the bait tank, switch to a 6v. Less stress on the bait.

[dorf]

Less stress on the bait.

As apposed to a hook in its nose?
Not trying to start anything but that struck me as funny.

[Hobie-Pedaller]

a hook in the nose ?

OK for dines and macks.

but perhaps try gil hooking the chovies.

[Siebler]

As apposed to a hook in its nose?
Not trying to start anything but that struck me as funny.

The difference is that you are trying to keep these baits unstressed for a few hours as opposed to having the bait on the hook for 5 minutes. If the bait is all stressed before even going on the hook it isn't going to swim well and will likely not get bit.

Choosing a good, unstressed, bait that is in decent shape is why 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. By keeping your bait nice in the tank it can result in better catches for you.

Try getting Cured anchovies. they will last longer in your tank as they are not fresh out of the bait boats hold. In the Hold the bait takes a lot of abuse and it can really stress them out, causing them to die quickly in your tank if not given a period of rest. If you guys have never seen bait unloaded form the boats you might not understand but these baits are crammed into these tanks before being transported to the receiver where they are then slid down long tubes into the bait boxes. They are usually given 2-3 days to rest if they are not saving the box for a certain boat or for cured bait.

[Siebler]

a hook in the nose ?

OK for dines and macks.

but perhaps try gil hooking the chovies.

A gill hooked chovie swims differently than a Nose hooked bait. Most of the time I nose hook chovies, Ive just never been successful with the gill/collar hooked baits. Sardines on the other hand, I love fishing a Butt hooked bait and have caught tons of yellows this way.

[Hobie-Pedaller]

interesting info Bassboy.

i have only collar hooked chovies in the past.

do they live very long nose hooked ???

they seem so fragile, it seems like their life span would be minimal after being penetrated with a hook.

[Siebler]

Just dont go pinning them on a 4/0 hook and they live fine. I never fish a bait until it is dead anyways, 5 minutes tops. If the bait isnt bit then its just not the right bait, or there are no fish in the immediate area and it isnt going to live through the move anyways. Obviously I am not doing this with Macks that I am trolling but if im drifting a bait they dont hang out all that long.

[TheSherThang]

Pretty much the same as CJ.

For sardines, I usually go Nose or Collar and occasionally Butt if i want that sucker to really swim out there. Butt hook, doesn't last very long so key as always is a fresh bait.

For Anchovies, I use light wire hooks and usually nose or collar.

Mackerals same as Sardines.

Macks last the longest, Sardines next and Anchovies are the most delicate.