Prawn question for Bait fishermen

[Damned67]

I was wandering past a local seafood joint, and noticed them selling fresh bay prawns for about $8 kg. Obviously, that's cheaper (and better) than the frozen prawns sold as bait.
My question, while simple as it may be, is this:
How long can I safely keep them on ice, and still be good as bait?
<24 hrs? up to 48hrs?
Not long at all?

Without the provisions to "snap freeze" them, would it still be OK to divide up a kg into a few containers, and toss them in the freezer for later use?

I've recently gone off using prawn as bait, 'cause I can never seem to get them to stay on the hook, but if I can make use of this fresh stuff (some for me, some for them), then I might grab a kilo or two on the way home.

Cheers!

[Noelm]

depending on the prawns themselves, some will keep for ages some will be crap, just buy some, freeze them and deforst later to see how good they are, they will keep "fresh" for a day or so easy enough in the fridge, and prawns staying on the hook should not be a real big deal, unless you mean that "pickers" take them quick! to put a prawn on 'properly" just start from under the tail, thread the hook in and pull the prawn right over the eye of the hook so it is sitting nice and straight (not bent in a U turn) and tie a half hitch over the tail and your done will last for ages, looks lifelike and works!

[Damned67]

Well, sometimes we just seem to lose the prawns off our hooks (son and I), but not having much experience, I've always tried to feed the prawn around the hook in a U-shape. I'll try it your way next time. How are you tying the half hitch over the tail?

Hoping to wet the line both Saturday arvo and Sunday morning.

[Ian1]

Damned67

Hate to be negitive but just be sure you don't use imported prawns for bait as they can introduce diseases from places like vietnam into the local fishery.
Local bay prawns are obviosly fine to use but the cheap imported stuff from woolies should be avoided.

cheers. Ian

[Damned67]

Ian,
No problems. When I use frozen prawns, it's the packet stuff sold at bait/fishing shops (hopefully they're not imported). The fresh prawns I looked at yesterday did claim to be "Bay Prawns". But hey, we all know about the recent dramas with seafood shops trying to claim the products as something they aren't.

Cheers, and thanks for the heads up.

[Damned67]

Just jumped on Google to check out tying half-hitchs onto bait. I understand it now. I love this "learning" thing. Oh, and fishing. It's just a shame work has to get in the way.

[juju]

I buy my squid from the co-op, freezes well and is better that the bait shop stuff when thwaed out...same story with prawns...and you can buy the bigger ones...so a bigger bait..can sometimes make a real difference..buy the way, nothing wrong with the cooked ones vrs green....peeled cooked ones make good baits

[HH17L]

I buy the fresh green Aussie prawns for Coles, Woolies etc, cost around $20 a kilo & have caught quite a few fish with them. Whatever i dont use gets frozen till next time. I have found them to be nice & firm & they stay on the hooks better the the little things you buy as frozen bait.

Andrew.:)

[Damned67]

I assume that you keep the fresh green prawns on ice while fishing?

[Noelm]

yes, just keep them cool and they will be OK, the whole idea of using the prawn straight instead of 'curled up" is to make it look much more natural, if you have ever been prawning, you will see that a live prawn is nearly always swimming straight, plus it allows for the half hitch on the tail.

[Spin]

Put in boiling water for 8 minutes
dip in cold ice water for 3 minutes
place between 2 bits of bread and butter
best taken with cold ale.
while watching other people fish.
they wont last long.