Temporary live bait tank?

[DARice]

One of these days (years) I'll pull my SC17 down to San Diego to fish with my brother for several days. Any thoughts on solutions for a temporary live bait tank? To me that means no new holes in the boat (OK, I can live with some screw holes to mount plumbing and keep the tank from sliding around).

Dave

[Danno]

Well, you could just invite me along.   

[DARice]

Well, you could just invite me along.   

That's the best solution of all!

[christianbrat]

I use a 20 gallon Rubbermaid trashcan and this $45 pump kit. I put a scotty plug on it and just use my downrigger outlet.  It's a recirculating setup but it keeps a scoop of anchovies alive all day so its good enough for me!
https://www.iboats.com/shop/attwood-t-500-recirculating-aerator-kit.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwruSHBhAtEiwA_qCpppyzTJg4hAEtR_wA6n-RY_3MbxBxUH_EP7F7D-5-907wQSDVXWptkBoCGFsQAvD_BwE

[BayWolf]

This would be great for keeping crab and shrimp alive. Also, for keeping sand dabs going for ling bait!

[Fisherdv]

I use a 20 gallon Rubbermaid trashcan and this $45 pump kit. I put a scotty plug on it and just use my downrigger outlet.  It's a recirculating setup but it keeps a scoop of anchovies alive all day so its good enough for me!
https://www.iboats.com/shop/attwood-t-500-recirculating-aerator-kit.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwruSHBhAtEiwA_qCpppyzTJg4hAEtR_wA6n-RY_3MbxBxUH_EP7F7D-5-907wQSDVXWptkBoCGFsQAvD_BwE

That looks interesting. If you don't mind, how do you plumb it, and how exactly does it work?

Man, that is a well rigged little SE.

[AJFishin]

If you don't have a tank, the 20 gallon BRUTE trash cans work well, like Christinabrat has. I used one for awhile a few years ago, worked well.
If you're only going to use anchovies, a recirculating tank should keep them alive. But imo, if you're going to be holding mackerels or sardines, you're going to need a constant flow of fresh water.

Here's a picture of when I first made mine a recirculating tank. The clear hose was not connected from the pump to the nozzle in this picture.



Then I converted it to a fresh water intake. Holding sardines...



This is just off of the top of my head if you don't use a recirculating tank, it won't look pretty and it's down a dirty.
If you have a tank and it's tall enough, you could toss the outflow hose over and in the splashwell or hang it over the transom.
Otherwise you're going to need to set it on something so it can be high enough to set a proper water level in the tank.
You can secure the tank to a piece of plywood, then screw that into some cut to size 4x4's. You're also going to need to strap the tank down so it doesn't slide. I use a set of cargo D-rings secured into my panels, the side boards that cover the fuel tank, then I use a ratchet strap to secure my tank.

Get a transom mount pump, I currently use a 800 gph Rule pump with a transom bracket for my 25 gallon tank. I also have a Johnson Proline Bilge Pump 750 GPH 3A which has a built in transom bracket, something I'm thinking of trying out on my 17.
Then run your intake hose from your pump over the transom and splashwell to your tank.
Rig up a switch or clamps to connect your pumps wires to the your battery for power and ground.

You can also take a look at my current set up, might give you some ideas.
http://www.arimaowners.com/index.php?action=gallery;su=user;cat=983;u=7859

[christianbrat]

I put the screened inlet and pump at the bottom and the sprayer at the top. Angling it to swirl the water helps a lot.  Once it's full it won't move, so I've never strapped it down

[Fisherdv]

I put the screened inlet and pump at the bottom and the sprayer at the top. Angling it to swirl the water helps a lot.  Once it's full it won't move, so I've never strapped it down

How do you fill and drain the tank? To drain, do you just disconnect the top hose, put over the side, then turn the pump on?

I've been procrastinating a good live bait setup for a few years now.  My temporary solution is a cooler with an aerator. It works, and keeps anchovies alive all day, but only if I launch at LL and only get about 2 dozen anchovies.

[christianbrat]

I put the screened inlet and pump at the bottom and the sprayer at the top. Angling it to swirl the water helps a lot.  Once it's full it won't move, so I've never strapped it down

How do you fill and drain the tank? To drain, do you just disconnect the top hose, put over the side, then turn the pump on?

I've been procrastinating a good live bait setup for a few years now.  My temporary solution is a cooler with an aerator. It works, and keeps anchovies alive all day, but only if I launch at LL and only get about 2 dozen anchovies.

It fills with a few scoops of a bucket and empties the same way, or sometimes I just dump it out (but im cheap and save my extra bait and freeze it for crabs.)

[AJFishin]

On my trash can I added a cooler drain plug kit and also sealed it with some Boatlife. At the end of the day I would let it drain in the bilge and out the drain, same way I drain my tank I have now.

[christianbrat]

On my trash can I added a cooler drain plug kit and also sealed it with some Boatlife. At the end of the day I would let it drain in the bilge and out the drain, same way I drain my tank I have now.

Thats a really good idea. im going to try that out

[AJFishin]

On my trash can I added a cooler drain plug kit and also sealed it with some Boatlife. At the end of the day I would let it drain in the bilge and out the drain, same way I drain my tank I have now.

Thats a really good idea. im going to try that out

This is the one (Igloo part # 24011) was what I used off of an old cooler and it worked for me. You can see it here in this picture when it was on my now bait tank.  Then one day I accidently kick it and that was the end of it, so I redid it.



I have since switched over to a 3/4-in x 1/2-in dia threaded male hose x MIP adapter fitting with a brass lock nut with 1 rubber seal washer (inside), added sealant to it for redundancy, and a hose cap. This has been a better drain

[Fisherdv]

That's a nice looking setup AJ!

[AJFishin]

That's a nice looking setup AJ!

Thanks Fisher, just a little bit of trial and error to get it just right. I'll be doing the same in my SC17 clone 

[Wiley]

I'm with FisherDv on the procrastination. I've even gone so far as to check stock at Home Depot for the same can Christianbrat uses. Nope. Still haven't done it... Dang it !

[croaker stroker]

Did you guys notice AJ's chum chunker..?  They work great for most species in So. Cal.

[Fisherdv]

Did you guys notice AJ's chum chunker..?  They work great for most species in So. Cal.

How does that one work? Smash bait down with the top?

I used to always catch more fish when I would hang a sack of chum off the back of the boat. Bait fish will surround the boat. Makes it really easy to catch live bait. May even get a few curious visitors 

[AJFishin]

Did you guys notice AJ's chum chunker..?  They work great for most species in So. Cal.

I was inspired after seeing CS's chum cutter, greatest little contraption I made and have.
Has worked fantastic for cutting chum for fishing and stuffing my lobster bait tubes. Worth the small amount of time in making it, plus it fits nicely in my aft boxes and out of the way when I'm not using it.
I made mine out 1/2" cutting board and SS screws. Lay the sardines inside, put the top on to hold them down, stick your knife in the slots and start cutting, makes chum in no time!

[croaker stroker]

Something about the square chunks that some fish (like tuna and yellowtail) get excited about.

I think it looks like a billfish has slashed through a school of sardines and the tuna come along to clean up the aftermath. 

[AJFishin]

Something about the square chunks that some fish (like tuna and yellowtail) get excited about.

I think it looks like a billfish has slashed through a school of sardines and the tuna come along to clean up the aftermath. 

Besides throwing chunks overboard, I'll stuff some pieces in a laundry bag that I buy at the dollar tree and hang it over the side. It makes for a great way to catch macks with a Sabiki and it rings the dinner bell for some other fish to come and check out what's going on.

[Fisherdv]

My buddy caught his biggest Halibut ever on a small piece of cut anchovy.