Guys you gotta try this. I quit trying to keep threadfin shad/blueback herring alive since Im going to cut them before I put them on the hook anyway. To keep them firm and fresh I use one of these portable vacuum sealers on the market now. Once out the bait store, I put a dozen in each bag, hit em with the ole portable battery operated hand held held vacuum pump and pile em up in the cooler. I dont try to freeze them, but it sure works good to keep bait fersh and firm for those one or two day trips. The little hand held pump and re-usable vacuum bags can be bought at Wal-mart for around 20 bucks.
Great idea, Ken. I do the same thing, except i have just been using zip-locks & paper towels. I'll have to get one of those vac pumps, Arte they in the same section as the other vacuum sealers?
Tommy, they are in the same area as the zip loc bags. My wife actually bought this one and I kinda relocated it from the kitchen to the boat.......as soon as I get that way again, Ill buy a new one and put the old one back in the kitchen......Oh yeah......make sure you rinse the little cap out so it dont stink !!!!!! Runs on 6 AA batteries.
Went by wally world last night and got a vack seel. They are in the grocery section with the zip locks. Only paid $7.00 for a starter kit comes with 3 qt bag to get you started, Good buy I think, Thanks Again Foxhound !!
I haven't bought one yet but I do the next best thing. Put the shad in a ziplock bag (without paper towels) and close it all but about a 1/2". Then slowly submerge the bag in water up to the opening but don't let water in the bag. It pushes 99% of the air out. Then seal it while it's submerged. Some people use a straw in the opening but I don't see a need for it myself. They hold up real good freezing them this way. The shad will still bleed when you take them out. It's the same principal as vacuum sealing, I think.
