Bait and Livewell

[utfyrfytr]

I really don't know where to ask this. I have a 97 Crestliner 1650 Sportfish with a baitwell and livewell. The switch for the wells has a setting for baitwell, Livewell and both. There is a pump in the splashwell that powers on in the baitwell position but I have no idea where the Livewell pump may be and it doesn't appear to be working. The Livewell is in front of the winshield in the bow area of the boat. Does anyone know where that Livewell pump may be located? Thanks for any help.

 

[alldodge]

Hey @dingbat have an idea?

 

[dingbat]

I really don't know where to ask this. I have a 97 Crestliner 1650 Sportfish with a baitwell and livewell. The switch for the wells has a setting for baitwell, Livewell and both. There is a pump in the splashwell that powers on in the baitwell position but I have no idea where the Livewell pump may be and it doesn't appear to be working. The Livewell is in front of the winshield in the bow area of the boat. Does anyone know where that Livewell pump may be located? Thanks for any help.

Most systems use a manual diverter (valve) to move from bait to live well operation from a common pump.

If they are separate systems as the switch suggests, I would expect to find two separate supply inlets (thru hulls) unless the a single intake was sized to accommodate both pumps running at the same time. If that is the case, I would expect to see a tee on the input with a pump on each leg.

They could share a common return, but would expect to see a drain routed out of the hull up front if that was the case.

Are their seperate plumbing systems for each well?

Bear in mind that the plumbing (hoses) are 30 years old. They would have long since dry-rotted long. I would be very surprised if the plumbing systems wasn't replaced at least once since new.

Someone could have easily abandoned a live well they didn't use to save time and money during a retorfit.

 

[Captain Caveman]

I would assume that any pumps are located in your bilge next to or near the bilge pump.

 

[airshot]

Most people do not use bait wells where I fish. Insulated and aerated portable bait buckets work far better and much less hassle like your now having. Most disconnect any plumbing and just use it as storage. Don't use live wells either as I don't do tournaments either. I fish for food, so all my keepers go in ice to preserve my catch.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Just to give the other perspective, most people use live wells where we fish on inland lakes. Throw your walleye, crappies, or whatever in there and keep them alive until you get back and can filet them.

I use plastic buckets for minnows and leeches. If I am traveling longer distances over the water or it is hot out, I put those bait buckets in the livewell (full of water) so that they get fresh water and last longer.

Occasionally on pleasure-boating trips, I'll fill the livewell with ice so that Mrs. Captain Caveman and I can enjoy cold beverages.

 

[dingbat]

Just to give the other perspective, most people use live wells where we fish on inland lakes. Throw your walleye, crappies, or whatever in there and keep them alive until you get back and can filet them.

I too was taught to keep fish alive until ready to be cleaned.

Wasn't until I mated on a charter boat as a teen that I learned keeping fish stressed out and live, in a stringer or in a tank of urine and feces infused water, wasn't ideal to maintain meat quality.

If we're keeping fish for consumption, they go directly in the fish box filled with an ice/brine slurry. The salt drops the freezing point of the slurry below freezing. Larger species are bleed prior to going in the box.

The texture and favor of the finished product (meat) is far superior to the "keep alive" methodology

 

[kd4pbs]

Wasn't until I mated on a charter boat as a teen that I learned keeping fish stressed out and live, in a stringer or in a tank of urine and feces infused water, wasn't ideal to maintain meat quality.

I think someone should have been flunked from Marine Plumbing 101 if that happens.

 

[dingbat]

I think someone should have been flunked from Marine Plumbing 101 if that happens.

If that is the case, why do most have aeration and recirculation functions?

In have neither. Instead, I have scoop type intakes on the bottom of the hull. Provides a continuous flow of raw water whether running or at rest.

I use my bait well as an ice chest for drinks. Use the live well for bait because of the size of baits (4-6”) we use live lining. As noted above, any fish we keep go in the slurry in the fish box.

 

[tphoyt]

One of the local fishermen here that sells to the restaurants spikes their brain when brought on board and bleeds them out then right into the ice box. The fish don’t even have get rigamortis and you can taste the difference

 

[kd4pbs]

If that is the case, why do most have aeration and recirculation functions?

In have neither. Instead, I have scoop type intakes on the bottom of the hull. Provides a continuous flow of raw water whether running or at rest.

I use my bait well as an ice chest for drinks. Use the live well for bait because of the size of baits (4-6”) we use live lining. As noted above, any fish we keep go in the slurry in the fish box.

Zing!
Sorry.
>sigh<

 

[Captain Caveman]

I too was taught to keep fish alive until ready to be cleaned.

That makes sense to put them on ice ASAP. Of course, not all boats have space for an ice cooler or floors conducive (carpet) to bleeding the fish out.

I agree that putting them on ice is probably the top choice. The "keep-alive" method is still a pretty good option. Besides, I think that fish taste best when they are stressed out!

 

[tphoyt]

I never understood carpet in boat used for fishing. Or white carpet in a house. I dated a girl that had white carpet in the house. The first time I went to the house her mom said you need to take your shoes off. I said sorry I don’t wear shoes.
So from then on if I wanted to stop by I had to go around the back and could only hangout around the pool. Mom didn’t care for me to much but her dad and I got along great as long as I didn’t go in the house. It didn’t last to long as they were super rich and I was just a beach bum to them and dating their daughter was not acceptable to mom. If she could see me now.

 

[airshot]

Those that compete where fish must be kept alive to be counted are fans of livewells. When my brother moved to Florida and became an ocean fisherman, he to used the live well all the time, but mostly for bailt. Those that were into fresh fish eating always used ice. Here on the great lakes, most of the charter folks highly recommend icing down anything you going to eat. Having used both methods over many years of freshwater fishing, I can say iced are better tasting fish and all those that I know say the same thing. A good friend fishes tournaments and the live well is a must. Even he states that he would not want to eat them even though they are still alive, as they don't look and feel fresh like iced fish do. To each his own, we all have different tastes, but thru my own experiences, I will ice what I am eating...

 

[dingbat]

I never understood carpet in boat used for fishing.

My first boat was a 19’ cuddly I/O with indoor/outdoor carpeting.

Chumming became popular about that time. Stop and pickup a 5-gallon bucket of chum before heading out. You know where is is going….lol

Not sure what was worse…..dried chum in the carpet or the week old squid that somehow found its way to the bilge.

Thinking back, the week old squid by the long shot…lol

 

[cyclops222]

I kill instantly any fish I intend to eat. I also have 8" of ice in and water at the bottom. I cut the main artery in the gill area as soon as possible. I let the fish bleed out. Ido not throw any live fish into the box / livewell. Their struggling just causes blood bruises in the meat. If I am catching Yellow Perch for a friend ? I keep them an a large stringer. He is waiting at the dock in a golf cart with a clean BLACK plastic bag. stringer goes into the bag And then into the refrigerator as soon as possible. His preferred way.

I like pan boiled with no coatings and some Asparagus.