Gizzard Shad Storage?

I went this morning to scout out a new spot from the shore.

Looks pretty good and came recommended I plan to launch my kayak there tomorrow when the boat traffic is down.

I was able to Net10 good-sized gizzard shad I put them in a ziplock bag and despite the disapproving look of the girlfriend I put them in the fridge. Is there anything special I should do to keep them fresh for tomorrow or maybe two make them more potent fish catchers?

Will they still be prime tomorrow morning? Maybe about 24 hours old at that point but never Frozen. I'd like to avoid having to spend the time making bait. Well 24 hours next to the almond milk make them significantly less effective?

And I know what you guys are thinking. What are you going to do with the other 9 and 3/4 gizzard Shad because you ain't getting a bite son LOL

I frequently catch bait the day before I go out. I put them in gallon bag and get all the air out, then put that bag in another one. When I put it in the fridge it doesn't smell that way. It is also a good time to add some dead red to them. That way you don't have to spray it.

Guide on Tawakoni next to my boatslip puts fresh caught Shad ( extras that he won’t need that day ) into an ice chest 1/2 full of ice and a lot of rock salt and water just below the top of the ice. He pushes them into the icy solution. He said it “flash freezes” them and then they can be bagged and frozen. In the bags I’ve seen him use a few days later the Shad are firm not mushy. Even their eyes are clear and not cloudy. He always uses fresh over frozen but will use these as a back up plan.

Good info thx fellas!

Hopefully my refrigerator guests are ready for the big show tomorrow

This is what I do with skipjack. Then I take them home, pat dry with paper towels and vacuum seal them. Then into the freezer. They last a long time that way.

I have been putting them single layer on a wire rack in a chest freezer with a small fan inside blasting cold air directly on the shad. They freeze solid in less than 10 min. I think the flash freezing is key to keeping them from being mushy. Faster you freeze the smaller the ice crystals and less tissue damage. After they are frozen I bag them and keep in the deep freeze.

Typically I have better luck freezing bait as quickly as possible. In the fridge the tissue continues to break down. Adding salt will help keep it firm. If bait is around taking time to catch fresh bait is usually worth the time.