Livewell problem

Hola guys, just spent about 6 weeks in Baja, on the East Cape. Lots of fishing, diving, and surfing. But...I had a problem with my live well on my Outback.
  It would only draw water when I was peddling.
   With the pump on and dead in the water it would not draw water into the livewell.  I shortened the tube, and made sure the 90 degree pick-up was pointing foward. I have had several livewells on larger boats, and never had this problem. The livewell is NEW.
   Any ideas? Weak pump?  Thanks for any help, Ron

Post up some pictures of the set-up.

That's normal. The pump is in the tank and can't pull enough suction to prime it's self. You need a little forward momentum to force water up the tube to the pump. Once it's primed it will pump while stopped. But if turned off you'll need to reprime it.