Last updated on October 22nd, 2023 at 02:15 pm
Live bait is great for fishing, but the problem with using live bait is how to keep it alive for a full day of fishing. Live bait wells with aeration and or oxygen systems will keep your bait healthy and lively longer. One system that has been around for years and is well tested is the KeepAlive bait system. They produce quality aeration and oxygen systems for anglers as well as commercial aquariums.
Oxygen Bait storage Systems
When fishing with live bait, its important to understand that your bait needs oxygen just like you do, but they can’t breathe air they use their gills to extract dissolved oxygen from the water. The wind and wave action in the natural environment continually add oxygen to the waters. In a confined space like a bait bucket or well, the oxygen will run out and your bait will die unless you have a system to replace the oxygen being consumed.
A simple flow through bait bucket will work you have a good flow of fresh water to place it in. The wave action of the surf zone can make using this type of bait system tough, and getting the bait from one fishing spot to another along the beach will require some form of aeration system to keep your bait alive.
As bait breathes in oxygen from the water through its gills, it gives off CO2. The CO2 is absorbed into the surrounding water. The CO2 is then dissipated into the atmosphere through the process of aeration. Aeration is the action of introducing air bubbles into water. This naturally occurs with wind and wave action. We can produce the same results with air pumps and oxygen tanks.
An air bubble as it passes through water oxygen dissolves into the water and CO2 is absorbed by the bubble as it rises slowly to the surface. The air bubble then pops at the surface and the CO2 is released into the atmosphere. The smaller the bubble, the longer it remains in the water to release oxygen and absorb CO2.
A pure oxygen bubble will insert a higher percentage of oxygen into water than a normal air bubble. This will allow you to keep more bait alive in a smaller live well and they will be livelier. An Oxygen bubble However, doesn’t have the ability to absorb CO2. The bait will release CO2 into the water as they breathe and the CO2 will build up in the live well water. You will need some way to aerate the water to allow the CO2 to be released into the air, if not, the bait will suffocate.
Normally, driving down the beach the bouncing of the vehicle splashes the water around in the bait container to adequately aerate the water. However, once you stop and fish, that process will stop as well. Of course, you can alleviate this problem by simply changing out the water in your bait container periodically. For more information on surf fishing with live bait, read my recent article here.
KeepAlive® Pure Oxygen Infusion Systems
UPDATE: 01/08/2021 – NOT RECOMMENDED
KeepAlive® IS NO LONGER PRODUCING PRODUCTS OR HONORING ITS WARRANTY. THEY ARE NOT RETURNING CUSTOMERS CALLS AND ALL MAJOR RETAILERS ARE OUT OF STOCK ON THEIR SYSTEMS.
WE CAN NO LONGER ENDORSE KeepAlive PRODUCTS. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A QUALITY LIVE BAIT OXYGEN SYSTEM, WE SUGGEST YOU CONTACT: Oxygen Edge at oxyedge-chum.com. THEY PRODUCE QUALITY PRODUCTS THAT ARE AMERICAN MADE AND DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SALT WATER ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH OXYGEN EDGE, YOU MAY CONTACT THEM DIRECTLY BY PHONE: 409-267-6858, OR BY EMAIL:supercharger@oxyedge-chum.com
Which is Better, Aeration or Pure Oxygen?
A Pure Oxygen system is more expensive, but so is live bait. If you do a lot of live bait fishing, particularly with very delicate (prone to die) baits, a Pure Oxygen System will be your best option. Contact the good people at Oxyedge, they can fix you up with a system specifically designed to operate in the harsh saltwater environment.
A life long surf fisherman with 50+ years of experience, I am also an avid hunter and outdoorsman. I will be sharing my passion for the outdoors with you so be prepared for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and more. Along with gear reviews and the latest trends and innovations in the outdoor industry.
To date I have never found a keepalive salesman that will nor can explain to me what this sales bullet point actually means… “They are made of marine grade materials to withstand the harsh saltwater environment..? If you can and if you will, please tell me what are these “marine grade materials” are actually made with. A keepalive salesman at a Louisiana coastal bait and tackle shop told me that there is no difference between the aluminum keepalive O2 regulators and aluminum click-style pediatric medical grade oxygen regulator made in China.
I have found by experience that the aluminum click style O2 regulators do hot hold up well when used in marine environments, they are basically disposable O2 regulators… but on the up side, the keepalive O2 regulators are very cheap and that is a +++.
Hi Mr. Jackson,
Marine grade materials is one of those terms that usually means resistant to saltwater. I’ve found very few materials can withstand the marine environment without proper care and cleaning. Keep Alive does have the aluminum regulators, their lower priced units, and also the more expensive stainless and brass models. Those are about twice the price, but will hold up better in saltwater. As you probably know, all of them will last longer with a regular thourough cleaning and lube. The folks at Oxy Edge (https://oxyedge-chum.com/products-pricing/how-to-order/) started the oxygen system for bait nearly 30 years ago now and they have some systems built in the USA, designed for saltwater. THey also have some good information on “marine grade materials” they are not big fans of the aluminum regulators. Oxy Edge, is a bit more expensive, but still very competitive and built to last so, over their lifetime, they will pay for themselves. If you go with the cheaper aluminum body regulator, I suggest you rinse in fresh water after every use, and even better, with a product like “saltaway”, then wipe it down with “corrosionX” before putting it away. This will make it last much longer. A little maintenance goes along way when it comes to saltwater gear. Hope this helps, Thanks, Rex
A heads up and update on The Incredible KeepAlive® Bait System. “Incredable” is an understatement to say the least!
I did purchased a Keepalive O2 regulator last June 2020 from Walmart and had corrosion issues, regulator failure 5 weeks later in July 2020, I tried to contact Keepalive many times by phone and email since then about the regulator failure and warranty and there was no response from Keepalive to date, period. *Pitiful poor customer service, total avoidance!
Last month, December 2020 I called and talked with Bass Pro Shops in Islamorada, FL regarding O2 regulator warranty problems and was advised that Keepalive and their mirror company O2GO have no salesmen, no owners, no staff, no product available on the planet and there is no warranty on any of Keepalive O2 products they have sold. Bass Pro was unable to contact them and they no longer stock or sell their fishing oxygen system products.
Keepalive and O2Go mysteriously and quickly totally vanished, effectively gone out of business abandoning customers and distributors with warranty and equipment failure issues. Popular distributors like Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Walmart, Amazon as well as many smaller distributors like Broadway Tackle, Capt. Mack’s, Tackle Wholesale, etc. cannot get and no longer no longer sell Keepalive or O2 Go products.
Thanks for the information Mr. Jackson, sorry to hear about your problems with KeepAlive. I am having the same issues getting no response from them at all. I have updated the review of their products to reflect your information and experiences and no longer recommend their products. They appear to have closed up shop and disappeared. I recommend everyone to stay away from KeepAlive, it they can find them or their products. https://oxyedge-chum.com/ the folks at Oxygen Edge have a good system made in america from american components and are very familiar with the problems at KeepAlive. You can contact them directly from their website. if I hear anything on KeepAlive, I will email you.