Each morning the catch is deposited in bait receivers located in strategic locations for sale to boaters. Sportboats take on massive amounts of anchovies. Their bait tanks are large and hold over fifty scoops, which they throw over board mostly for chum in a days fishing. A small portion of them are hook bait in comparison to the amount they throw over for chum. Small boats usually hold one to three scoops and chumming has to be very selective.
Most anglers have to fight the desire to overload their bait tank.
It s much better to have a hooked feisty anchovy ripping off line than one on its side looking up at you. So don t overload the tank. When the time comes to place a hook in the bait certain procedures have to be followed. It is done in various ways with the goal mainly to keep their scales intact and to keep them as lively as possible, so do not squeeze them. Three popular ways are used to hook anchovies.