Depends what is around in the area your fishing, that you will want to use for chunking and hook bait. I'll even freeze these large baits, in freezer bags, for the next trip out. IF I pick up fresh bait, ahead of time, to going out, I will cut up, and bag and even freeze, if need be, so its all done before hand. Labor day weekend, I was anchored, on the radio, talking to dragger friend, who was heading in to port. He had a lot of fresh bait on board, met him on way in, got totes, of fresh bait, all iced down, mixed fish, and bags of hook baits.
Cost is big factor here, look around, there are places, that are reasonable.
You must realize, in the fall when the draggers are dragging, for hake, whiting, butters, etc., that when they are dragging a area, its like equal to one very large chunking fleet. If you can imagine, what a chunking operation going on, with all fresh bait, hmmmm. I am always looking off the horizon, when I am offshore, one never knows what your going to see. See you after my next trip.