Striped bass and live jumbo minnows

Striped bass love jumbo minnows and i love catching striped bass.  How can i get the freshest minnows from the bait stores?  I am wondering about how often the bait stores get deliveries and when.  I also am thinking that i should go to the busy and popular bait shop, even though i want to support a smaller bait shop that is actually closer to where i fish.  I think the busier shop will have fresher bait.   

Those jumbo minnows are real hardy if h ou keep the water cold.  I have kept them in a minnow bucket for several weeks and didn't change the water, but every few days.

I get mine at Freeport bait and out of the hundreds Ive bought have only had a 2-3 die while in the bucket and that was usually after a few days. I think they get their orders in on Thursday, you can always call and ask. Most of the shops get the minnows from the same supplier, and I msy be wrong but I bet they all get delivered on the same day! As the weather warms aeration becomes more important, Wal mart sells a small AA battery operated air pump for $5 its called baby bubbles.  Good luck have fun. I f'n love the sound of the clicker screaming as a striper peels drag!!!!!!!!!!!

I f'n love the sound of the clicker screaming as a striper peels drag!!!!!!!!!!!

I love the thrill and anticipation one gets while watching The Dance of the Nervous Minnow!

If u ever plan on fishing the west delta, gotcha bait in Antioch has quality live bait. That's where I buy my jumbo's when I fish Sherman lake area. Also, my buddy who works as a fisheries biologist keeps his leftovers in a small aquarium and says they can last upwards of a week if u have a filter/o2 system

I've kept them alive for up to 6 months in a basic icechest w/a cheapo aquarium bubbler. There's a few in my backyard pond that look like american shad @ 8" long...who knows how long they've been in there. 

I've found they stress and die soon if kept in a glass aquarium.  Similar to Pat, I've kept them alive for months in an icechest with a bubbler. Keep the water cold, change most of it out every 4-7 days depending how many jumbos are in the chest, no feeding unless keeping for more than 2-3 weeks. Works great when air temps are cooler (Fall-Spring).  They die much more easily during warmer summer months.   

Speaking of stress, does any one else believe that if you buy them the day of delivery to the shop, that they are most stressed, less lively, and more likely to die?

-Allen

Speaking of stress, does any one else believe that if you buy them the day of delivery to the shop, that they are most stressed, less lively, and more likely to die?

-Allen

yep   

Good to know about keeping them in the ice chest. Are we talking about a big ice chest or small?

Speaking of stress, does any one else believe that if you buy them the day of delivery to the shop, that they are most stressed, less lively, and more likely to die?

-Allen

Yes

I'd say 30 to 50qts size with white interior. I keep it in the garage and it never gets over 80* or under 50* around here...so that might have something to do with it too. My kids LOVE playing with the jumbos btw, it's pretty funny seeing them try to catch the minnows with their bare hands. 

If you spend a little time catching small bluegill 3 to 4 inches it works to catch larger stripers. Works well in the Delta.

You want to catch some big stripers, Hardhead Custom Baits, this is a friend of mine back east, he has been doing very well

https://www.facebook.com/chesapeake.kayak.trolling

I live in Sonoma county, die hard striped bass fisherman, love trolling and throwing plugs, I also love fishing with mudsuckers. at the local bait shop they sell jumbo minnows for fresh water. I have pondered using them here in the river (considered brackish water)  curious how long they would live in that water.....?