Live Bait Esky
Submitted by Lamby on Tue, 2010-08-10 21:49
Chasing any members experiences with converting an esky into a live bait well, I am aware of some kits available to do this but pros and cons are always helpful. Just looking to add a different dimension every now and again so not keen on plumbing one into the boat hence the portable option of an esky appeals.
Cheers in advance,
Lamby
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18151
Date Joined: 11/03/08
go along to an aquarium
go along to an aquarium place and get a battery operated aerator and just sit it on the edge and away you go. live bait tank. they do it in kids wading pools when using livies as bait up north on the cliffs
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
NightWolf
Posts: 641
Date Joined: 11/06/10
you can buy a complete live
you can buy a complete live bait kit for $30 has a bag and airrator in it
Surecatch retractable live bait tank. Made from stong plastic you can store it away and bring it out when you cast the net to get your bait. Comes with a watertight seal, air pump with stone and a scoop net. One fold away piece of equipment that is easy to use, just add water and then when all the live bait is gone, empty the water and head home with your catch. Battery Powered aerator
http://www.motackle.com.au/index.cfm?pr=product&product_id=6240
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18151
Date Joined: 11/03/08
not a bad price but i think
not a bad price but i think the 15 inch one would still be too small. jmo. also you cant keep your drinks cold in it when your not using it as a live tank like you can an esky
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
danno
Posts: 1676
Date Joined: 12/07/09
ask brenz he made one for
ask brenz he made one for his tinny.
brenz
Posts: 2182
Date Joined: 15/06/06
lamby i converted a 60 lt
lamby i converted a 60 lt coleman esky to tounament specs . fully plumbed for next to nothing . granted i had to hole sae the hull for the inlet /outlet but it is fully water tight . will fill the esky to the overflow point (roughly 100mm from top) in round 2 min i think . its fairly fast . works well any info you need just pm us or come round some time for a look if your keen
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
One of the problems with
One of the problems with converting an esky is the shape (obviously). You really want something with much more rounded corners, it keeps the fish in better nick because they don't *bonk* the ends all the time.
wangler
Posts: 607
Date Joined: 26/04/08
Went to bunnings the other day
Went to bunnings the other day and got a 60lt black ROUND bin with a lid for $13 to make into a live tank, ( no corners for the fish to bump into while on the move and deteriorate quicky ). Not to sure on the black in summer, might end up with poached whiting...Keep the lid on with an ocky strap...just a thought..Another idea is if you can get hold of a plastic 60lt beer fermenter, opaque in colour but about $80 new would be better
Want to make someone mad... tell a lie! Want to get the world upset... tell the TRUTH !
Dougie
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Actually black on the inside
Actually black on the inside would be even better, perhaps paint the outside white to keep it cool?
scotto
Posts: 2474
Date Joined: 21/04/08
aerators?
i dont reckon aerators are any good. the water temperature keeps changing too much, plus the water gets dirty/slimy/bloody.
i would personally get a small bilge/bait pump, and just keep water pumping into it, with a outlet at the top. clean, fresh, consistant temperature water.
DieHard
Posts: 1823
Date Joined: 06/10/08
Found
Found this;
http://www.motackle.com.au/index.cfm?pr=product&product_id=6040
DieHard – The Official “Ray & Shark” Chaser!
Seaquest
Posts: 1132
Date Joined: 22/10/09
I use a 60lt plastic bin
I use a 60lt plastic bin with a bilge pump connected to some retic pipe with holes drilled in the retic pipe so it sprays water over the surface. Cheap and easy to make. I have no problem keeping 20 odd herring alive for most of the day. It pays to replace the water every few hours to keep it clean. I have just put a bung in the bottom of the bin to let the water drain out and use the deck wash to refill it.
Chuditch
Posts: 114
Date Joined: 15/07/09
Well thats a backflip, so
Well thats a backflip, so much for lure only trips! Agree with scotto the aerators arent that good. Have used them often at the cliffs up North in eskys. Live baits are dead baits within an hour or so
jamesconnelly85
Posts: 63
Date Joined: 08/03/10
Chud = mad dog
Chud = mad dog
brenz
Posts: 2182
Date Joined: 15/06/06
the esky i used was a
the esky i used was a coleman one for simular reasons as till sugested but he corners are fine the fish never seem to stess and wil survive for over a day i guess . i have had fish in there for 8 hours at a time and they are swimming off strong with no problems at all
Lamby
Posts: 3145
Date Joined: 04/08/09
Cheers for the responses
Cheers for the responses guys much appreciated, Brenz wouldn't mind checking out how you have set yours up. Was thinking the plastic bin option also its going to be a bit of trial and error I guess to see what works in our tub.
No backflip Adrian it's still jigs and plastics mate but a live floater out the back or down on the big rig whilst still jigging has me tickled. Also a nice livey sent out at the fads should convert to some mahi on the plate!
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Hmm, question is if its
Hmm, question is if its still alive, is it bait? hehe. I've been known to chuck out a bait at say the abrolhos and have it wafting around while i'm jigging or working SP's.
What depths are you going to be chucking the floaters out in? Would be interesting to see how often you could get pelagics out of perth in say the 40's. If it wafted near the bottom, then obviously you could get dhuie, sambos and the like, plus at any depth, sharks (which reminds me, i really should target them sometime...).
As for the FAD's, liveys worked very well when i used them. Even smaller 60-70cm dollies were smashing the herring (and they werent that small herring). Worked really well for salmon too (down south when they were sparse and not hungry for lures).
Lamby
Posts: 3145
Date Joined: 04/08/09
Poses a good question and I
Poses a good question and I prefer to lean away from bait and say it's just a livey!
I am thinking a floater for 3 mile, fathom, 4 mile dunsborough etc. anything from the 12-20 and anytime up north. Anything wider then I will be looking at keeping one on the bottom but that's all going to be drift dependent as i will be staying on the jigs. I am looking at something portable because if I was more serious about it then it would have to be a permanent fixture plumbed.
It was that conversation with you Matt that had me thinking of dollies on livies at the FAD's, always handy to have another go to option.
The boat is getting a bit of a make over at the moment, tiimbo has just fitted a pumping stereo and I have just put the boatlights in which look awesome. Front seats have been replaced in favour of a bench seat esky and a new bimini with front clears should be on soon. If all else fails we have a floating disco with a portable livey tank (I heard the ladies go just as wild for them)
Freo_Boi
Posts: 266
Date Joined: 23/02/10
theres only 3 uses for an esky
1: To store beer!
2:To put dead demersals in..(bled and gutted)
3:Makes a good seat..
Dont go making a stupid live tank or a bloody tuna float rig from one!!!