I Know several cat fishermen including myself and if we could find live shad such as gizzard, threadfin or even large minnows to buy would be great. Number one because a lot of times we don't want or have time to catch the bait just want to get bait and go fishing. Number two how do we get in touch with you to buy bait.

I haven't even started my own stock yet. Just got my boat back yesterday, and they failed to fix the problem. Gotta take it back again.

Joe's Bait & Tackle in Lake Dallas may be able to get baitfishes for you with advance notice. You may be able to sell to places like this. I've heard of salting bluegills to preserve them a little while.

Bluegill are easy to keep alive. I've kept them alive for months in smaller bait tanks I've made. That's what this 110 gallon one I built will be primarily full of.

Where and when will you start selling them.

There would defiantly be a market but not sure how big it would be

Couple probably sell to the bait shops. All I can ever find is just threadfins but would much rather have the big gizzard Shad

I'm in west Fort Worth. Gotta build a big enough tank for that many, which is my next project, and get all the proper licensing, if I decide to do it.

How you going to keep the shade alive from the lakes and creeks where you catch them to your house ?

I have a 50 gallon shad tank on the boat. Holds a couple hundred. Probably build another one too. Lake is only 5 miles from my house.

Needed.

-Individual bait dealer license
-Fishin License
-Permit from the state to sell non-game fish parentheses you have to apply for this, if you have any fishing related tickets you will not be able to get the permit.)
- Record every amount of non-game fish you catch and make a trip ticket online after each harvest
-you will also need a receipt book and keep a log.

I have been doing this for over eight years now. You have to be consistent and a half baked fresh on you every day. You will have people coming over at all different hours to pick up bait including in the middle of the night. So you are literally stuck at home because your wife cannot touch the bait and your kids can’t sell the bait if you’re not there. If you have anybody helping you you have to put them down on your application permit as a helper. They have to be there when you were harvesting or selling. They cannot do it on their own.

It’s a very seasonal thing though. Only when the Shad are deep is when people really want them. Once the water warms up you can throw in the boat ramp and people will get all they need for the day so we are not needed anymore.

Have fun and don’t cut any corners. Call Austin and get the info you need. Not from us. By the time you get all your permits and licenses the seasons probably going to be over.

I've already obtained all the info. Only reason I decided to check into it was driving an hour and a half for someone who advertised 'fresh shad" and it was cold, but not even on ice, bags were full of brown juices, so obviously they had been caught days before. That ain't fresh. Fresh is either live, or less than 24 hours old. It was intended to be a cold weather deal only, since most anyone can catch shad when it's warm. And, I may just do it for my own bait, and not even worry about selling it. Still haven't decided yet.

I would buy from the guy that sells them at Tawakoni!
Have any more info?

I had a friend tell me to go to White Rock Lake on the northeast side somewhere and you could catch all the shad you want with a throw net. Does anyone know where he is talking about? I can't get back in touch with him.