How to keep Bunker FRESH....

[Luna Sea 5]

The most important thing when it comes to catching trophy stripers in the fall is to use FRESH Bunker.  There is a huge difference between fresh bunker and bunker thats 1 hour old.  slime

Most boaters keep the live bunker in there boats well.  Surf casters don't have that luxury, so what better way then to keep it fresh.  But remember, fresh also has to equal slim, cold bunker doesn't mean FRESH bunker.

Get a large cooler and fill half of it with ice.  Then take a plastic garbage bag and line it over the top of the ice.  Then.. ADD THE BUNKER that has been recently netted. This is how to keep bunker FRESH.

If you lay the bunker on the ice alone, the slime will come off the bunker and drain to the bottom of the cooler.  The plastic lets the bunker lay in its own slime while the ice on the bottom keeps them fresh and cold.

I just got back from the Atlantic Highlands marina to net bunker for tomorrow nights surf.  I didn't even have to start the boat and motor around the harbor. It only took 2 throws off the dock and less then 10 minutes, I got over 100 bunker,6 completely filled 5 five gallon pails.

I did keep some fresh on the ice, and I also froze the rest.  Frozen bunker are good for almost any other type of fish, EXCEPT STRIPERS.

Remember, keep them cold and also keep them in its natural SLIME. 

[Hotrod]

Great tip Nick.. Thanks

[Pfishingruven]

Good tip...

 

[ped579]

Good tip thanks Nick.  It is great to have the opportunity to net your own as the price for bunker (and not in the best condition) down here is $2.00/per.

Plus they are not in the best of shape.  That is why I usually go for the alternate, clams, or fresh mullet if you can get it.

[Luna Sea 5]

If your at the beach tonight Ped, I have plenty.  At $2.00 a pop.... I have over $200.00 worth of fresh bunker.

[brickken]

Nice tip there Nick 

[shkbilly]

How do you net bunker and how do you find it? Hell I don't even know what it looks like! I can tell you what squid and killies look like though! I have so much to learn!

[Pfishingruven]

Most people have throw nets!  You can throw it from shore, a dock or a boat.  It is pretty easy to find bait b/c they all travel in large pods or schools.  I know a lot of people use their fishfinders, other just look or blindly throw the net.  Bunker are also known as menhaden, mossbunker and pogy.  I attached a pic.  Very common as crabbing bait!!

 

[Luna Sea 5]

Bunker are also known as pogy.  I attached a pic.  Very common as crabbing bait!!

 

never heard pogy

[shkbilly]

Most people have throw nets!  You can throw it from shore, a dock or a boat.  It is pretty easy to find bait b/c they all travel in large pods or schools.  I know a lot of people use their fishfinders, other just look or blindly throw the net.  Bunker are also known as menhaden, mossbunker and pogy.  I attached a pic.  Very common as crabbing bait!!

 

Interesting, thanks!

[Bucktail]

Bunker are also known as pogy.  I attached a pic.  Very common as crabbing bait!!

 

never heard pogy

Pogy is a New England thing.

[Pfishingruven]

never heard pogy

Pogy is a New England thing.

Gulp has a salwater bait called Pogy.  My uncle's family used to own a B&T Shop in SSP/SSH in the 50's, 60's and 70's and that is all they referred to bunker as...

 

[ped579]

What was the name of the shop P-Man?

[Pfishingruven]

Jean & Art's