Storing Herring for Use as Bait -?

After searching for "Herring brine" and reading the posts, I got a little confused, so I would appreciate a refresher for the 2003 season.

1. If I buy good quality frozen herring, what is the best way to prepare it for a day of fishing?

2. If I buy dead herring that has not been frozen, how do I store it for use over the next 2 days?

3. If I buy live herring in the morning for use under a bobber from the beach, how do I store it and if it dies, then what?

Also, which of the above makes for the best bait.

Earlier posts included members who pick up herring on on their way out fishing, or at the beginning of the season and freeze it and pack it for the entire year. That is pretty cool, but I don' t think I am ready for anything that involved yet.

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

If using Frozen bait, take it out the night before and soak it in a brine mixture in order to firm the bait up, This will help it keeps it shape and shine as you fish with it.

If you bought dead herring, you could bring it home and brine it for use in the next day or so.
I would refrain from using anything that I wouldnt want to eat myself, so to speak. You know what I mean, if it looks like crap and smell like Shiot, the fish will turn his nose to it too.


For live bait you have to keep fresh cold water on them. I have seen beach fishers use those mesh diving bags to keep live bait in the water. The mesh bag allows excellent water flow and they cannot swim away. You could make your own device that suited the fish the same. If they die and are still fresh they should work fine.

I always like to get Fresh bait myself, But I dont always launch where there is good bait available. For this summer I have bought a 1/2 case of frozen Ballard bait this year that I can use as necessary. Their bait freezes alot better than some of the other local brands I have seen due to their packaging.

Any frozen bait with loose ice crystals within the packaging is not good bait IMO. It means some/all of the fluids have been extracted from the fish, so once it thaws it will be a little ugly herring biscut.

When I buy the fresh dead at Bud's or Possesion Pt. bait house I put and keep my herring on ice{ I take a small cooler to the beach with me} you can also take the herring out of the plastic bags, give them a quick rinse in salt water and repack in those plastic storage containers. KEEP THEM ICED!!!

The best way that I was taught is to take one cup of rock salt and two cups of water. Put your hering in the mix and place in the freezer until you want to use them. The water will not freeze if the mix is correct and your herring will last a long time, as long as when you are fishing, you keep your container in a cooler. I have had herring last 2 months in the freezer and fished with it with no problems.

Use powder milk,ice, rock salt and store in frig.

Thanks for all the advice! I am looking forward to fishing this year with my herring in much better shape than previous years!

Jeff

My favorite herring brine is as follows:
1 pack of frozen herring.
2 cups of rock salt.
1/2 cup of powdered milk or carnation instant creamer.
7 drops of green fool coloring.
Put all of the above contents in a tupperware container and place in refer or freezer.
Works good, last long time.
Good luck.

Whoops! In regards to my above answer, I forgot to mention 3-4 cups of water.
You should be GTG.