A live shrimp on a float rig is certainly the most commonly used natural bait and undoubtedly the most effective. Photo by Capt. Spud Woodward.

Twenty-first century saltwater anglers have a staggering array of manmade choices for tempting their favorite quarry, but natural live bait is still hard to beat. In some situations, live bait is absolutely necessary. That's why the most successful anglers are those with the knowledge and equipment they need to catch bait and keep it alive.

Sometimes it's as simple as knowing where to purchase your bait of choice. Many marinas and tackle dealers keep supplies on hand during peak fishing seasons. In some areas, entrepreneurs set up floating bait pens convenient to boat ramps and marinas.

Availability and price depends on the bait in question, the area and the season. Usually, all it takes is a phone call to find out if you can buy your preferred live bait, or will have to catch your own.

When live bait can't be purchased, you'll need to know how to locate it -- and have the means to catch it.

Not surprisingly, most of the bait species used for inshore fishing are found in the exact same areas where you'd find inshore game fish -- namely, tidal creeks, grass flats and among mangroves. Likewise, the baits preferred for offshore fishing are generally found in open ocean waters -- free-swimming in the water column, or around submerged structure.

The methods used to catch salt-water baits are as varied as the baits themselves, ranging from cast nets to multi-hook bait-catching rigs. Regardless of the method, always check the state and federal laws for your area, since many bait-catching methods are regulated.

Once you've caught the baitfish, your next challenge is keeping them the alive and ready for action.

An effective baitwell does three things: provides life-sustaining oxygen, prevents the accumulation of lethal waste products and offers an environment to keep the bait calm and stress-free.

Most high-end saltwater-fishing boats have large flow-through or re-circulating baitwells. Quick-disconnect pumps and other user-friendly features allow for on-the-water repairs during fishing trips. Gone are the days of using an improvised rig of a trashcan, garden hose and bilge pump to keep precious menhaden alive.

Shore-based anglers or those fishing from boats without built-in baitwells rely on bucket-type bait keepers. They're also handy for transferring live bait from the commercial holding tank to the boat. Several manufacturers offer bait keepers and aerators that you can use to transform a conventional ice chest or other suitable container into a functional baitwell.

Overloading your baitwell is a recipe for disaster, especially when water temperatures are warm. A good rule of thumb is only a pound of bait per gallon of water in flow-through baitwells. In aerated baitwells, reduce the amount of bait per volume of water by half.

To cool the water in a re-circulating baitwell without changing the salinity, you can add ice in a sealed plastic bag. Be careful not to change the temperature too dramatically, or this can stress the bait and cause it to die.

Chemical additives are available that enhance water quality and reduce stress in fish, but be aware that they work only in re-circulating wells.

Anglers wanting to boost the performance of baitwells can also upgrade them with after-market gear like the oxygen-infusion system manufactured by Keep Alive Systems.

An oxygen-infusion system may seem frivolous to the weekend warrior, but not to any angler who has two dozen $10-apiece blue runners and thousands of dollars of potential tournament winnings on the line.