Once you get your live bait, keeping it frisky in the summer heat can be a challenge. Insulated bucket-type bait keepers work well to keep the shrimp, mud minnows and finger mullet. A product from Marine Metal Products called the "Shrimp and Crab Saver" features a plastic mesh insert that allows the shrimp to hang on the sides and not crowd up on the bottom. Ice in a sealed plastic bag can be added to the baitwell to cool the water without changing the salinity. Just be careful not to change the temperature too dramatically, as this is likely to stress the bait fatally. Crabs can be kept alive in a bucket containing a small amount of water; replace the water periodically to keep the crabs from overheating.

Anglers fishing from a vessel equipped with a baitwell plumbed to provide a constant flow of seawater have the optimal setup for keeping shrimp and more fragile baitfish such as menhaden alive and frisky. These days, many saltwater fishing boats leave the factory with flow-through or recirculating baitwells or both. You can even buy an aftermarket oxygen injection system to boost the carrying capacity of these baitwells. My Pathfinder has two flow-through baitwells -- a 15-gallon at the bow and a lighted 40-gallon at the stern -- in addition to a 40-gallon release well for the catch.

Regardless of the size and type of your bait life-support system, don't overcrowd it. Last, but not least, keep extra bait dip nets onboard; even shrimp in small containers can be hard to catch with your hand.

RATTLED REDS
For at least a half-century, anglers have relied on the depth-adjustable slip-float for fishing the extreme tidal range of coastal Georgia. This terminal tackle is typically mated to a 7-foot casting rod combined with a revolving-spool reel. While this combo still claims its share of redfish, many anglers now opt for rattling floats.

When jerked sharply with the tip of the rod, this combination of wire, beads and a Styrofoam float mimics the sound produced by saltwater game fish feeding on shrimp, mullet and other prey. Unlike the conventional slip-float rig, it works great when fished on spinning tackle -- an appealing feature for anglers who're intimidated by casting reels. Originally designed to impart action to soft plastics and other artificial lures, the rattling float is a highly effective way to present live bait to redfish foraging in shallow waters.

Although most manufacturers produce models with built-in weight, they still prove a bit light for long-distance casting. Being able to put bait on target at distance makes the difference between success and frustration when targeting spooky shallow-water reds. Happily, two modifications that you can make to the standard rattling float will add weight without negatively affecting performance.