Bait & Live Wells
Keeping bait alive is most of the battle. A dead anchovy catches a fraction of what a lively one does, and an aerator is the cheapest thing on this site measured against the difference it makes.
Before you buy
Which Bait Bucket Keeps Bait Alive Longest?
Aerated or not, one chamber or two, battery or mains. How bait actually dies in a bucket, which bucket stops it, and when a cheap bucket plus a floating aerator beats the built-in kind.
How to Catch Sand Crabs for Bait
Sand crabs are the best surfperch bait on the West Coast and they're free, sitting in the sand at your feet. Here's how to find them, which ones to keep, and how to hook them.
