Bait Herring are graded by size. The smallest bait herring grade is Yellow or Orange tray herring the bait fish are from 4 to 5 inches long, Red tray herring are from 5 to 6 inches, Green tray herring are from 6 to 7 inches long, Blue tray herring are from 7 to 8 inches long, and Purple tray herring are from 8 to 9 inches long. The wild fish are caught in purse nets then moved alive into net pens and starved for several weeks. The purpose of the starving process is to accomplish several things. The stomach contents of the fish, which causes internal decomposition, are totally eliminated. The skin of the bait fish shrinks slightly causing less scale loss and producing a bait with more flash than a non starved bait. The overall fish firms up for a better product when trolled. The bait herring are then sorted by size and cryogenically frozen. The fish are then placed on plastic trays and packaged. There are several package styles available: vacuum pack or sealed plastic bags. Vacuum packaged bait is more expensive and will store longer, you must puncture the vacuum package with a pin or tip of a knife prior to thawing the bait to prevent blood or other fluids from leaking from the bait fish because of the vacuum.

Tray Frozen Herring

Tray or Bag Frozen Anchovy

Case lots only to verified Dealers
Click to Contact Us for terms