Keeping blueback herring healthy in a bait tank requires careful attention to water quality, oxygen levels, handling, and environmental stability, since these baitfish can be fragile. Their sensitivity means that even minor stressors—poor circulation, warm temperatures, or rough handling—can cause rapid deterioration.
The first step in maintaining them is choosing the correct tank. Bluebacks must be kept in round or oval tanks without corners, because sharp angles cause them to crash, injure themselves, and die. Tanks should be smooth on the inside, well-insulated, and sized generously, with twenty to thirty gallons being ideal for a day of fishing with up to three dozen baits. A proper shad-style tank like a Grayline, KeepAlive, SuperBaitTank II, or a round insulated cooler with a good pump system works best.
Oxygenation plays a central role in keeping herring alive. They consume oxygen rapidly and require both vigorous aeration and constant surface agitation. High-flow pumps, venturi injectors, or even pure oxygen systems create the environment they need to breathe efficiently. Allowing carbon dioxide to escape through a partially open lid is equally important.
Temperature management is another key factor: blueback herring survive best in cool water between 58 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. On hot days, anglers should rely on frozen water bottles rather than loose ice to avoid altering salinity or shocking the fish. Keeping the tank shaded helps maintain stable temperatures.
To reduce stress further, salt and water conditioners can be added at the beginning of the day. Non-iodized sea salt enhances slime coat production, improves oxygen absorption, and protects the herring’s scales. Products like Shad Keeper, foam suppressants, or ammonia detoxifiers help neutralize fish waste, allowing herring to remain vigorous for longer periods. Clean water is equally essential: filtration systems should run constantly, and partial water changes may be needed if ammonia levels rise or the tank begins to foam.
Handling practices also determine how long herring survive. They should should be handling during the baiting process itself, because their scales shed easily and rough handling causes fatal stress. Instead, anglers should use a wide, rubber-coated dip net to retrieve only the bait they need at the moment. Minimizing netting and movement reduces shock to the remaining fish. Light and noise should also be controlled, since herring calm down in darkness and panic when exposed to bright light, vibration, or banging around the tank.
Finally, the tank should never be overcrowded, and although its common, should not be shared with other species. Mixing species with different oxygen demands or stress responses almost always leads to a deterioration of quality. For example, while bluebacks thrive with added salt, shad, trout, and shiners do not.
By combining a properly designed tank, excellent oxygenation, careful temperature control, gentle handling, and a clean, low-stress environment, anglers can keep blueback herring healthy and active throughout the day—ensuring they remain effective, lively bait for striped bass and other predators.