The BixFish Bait Tank opens up a new dimension to your fishing experience. Holding about 12 gallons of water, the tank can handle a “kayak scoop” of sardines or anchovies, A half-scoop is more than enough for a typical fishing day for one person, so split a scoop with your buddy when you buy bait. With a footprint of 14×14 inches, there is sufficient swimming room to keep mackeral as well. The tank works well on Scout Inflatables boats as well as other inflatables. If you have a boat other than a Scout, contact me so we can verify it will fit your boat.
You can buy the BixFish bait tank as a Basic tank, or the Deluxe version which adds two rod holders and handles on the side of the tank. Both versions include a water pump on a bracket that clamps to the transom, and with a specially designed intake fitting that allows the system to function at any boat speed.
Complete bait tanks ship for free, and there will likely be no shipping charge for other products purchased at the same time except BixFish tracks, which ship separately.
You can also purchase the components I make to build up a tank system and build your own tank.
Watch the videos for more information about the BixFish Bait Tanks.
See the Batteries section of the catalog for batteries to use with a BixFish BaitTank, or use your own battery. The pump consumes typically about 3/4 amp from a 12v SLA or LiFePO4 battery
Price List – Complete Bait Tanks
Complete Bait Tanks Ship for Free! (See Shipping Info)
SKU | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | NOTES |
BT01 | Basic Complete Bait Tank System | $250 | (1) |
BT02 | Deluxe Complete Bait Tank System | $300 | (2) |
Price List – Bait Tank Accessories, and Components
SKU | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | NOTES |
BT11 | OarHooks for Inlet Hose, 6 hooks | $8 | (3) |
BT12 | Track Hooks for Inlet Hose, 6 hooks | $8 | (4) |
BT21 | Rod Rack Kit, 2 rod holder, with Hardware | $27 | (5) |
BT22 | Handles Kit, with Hardware | $23 | (5) |
BT31 | Transom Clamp-On Bait Tank Pump | $65 | (6) |
BT32 | Inlet Hose, 10 feet, with fittings | $27 | (7) |
BT34 | Outlet Kit (Outlet fitting with 30" Outlet hose | $31 | (8) |
BT35 | Inlet Kit | $20 | (8) |
Notes
(1) Complete turnkey bait tank, Battery not included. Included 10′ of inlet hose with fittings, 30″ inch outlet hose, inlet and outlet fittings, transom-mounted bait tank pump with integrated check valve
(2) Basic bait tank above, plus installed 2-rod rod rack and handles
(3) If you don’t have a BixFish track, use these to hang the inlet hose along the oars
(4) Use these hooks to hang the inlet hose along your BixFish track – keeps the hose out of the way of everything.
(5) Install handles or a rod rack on your Basic tank yourself. Comes with all necessary hardware.
(6) 350GPH pump with transom bracket. 0.75 amps nominal, 1 amp max, 12 volts. Integral check valve. Right angle and straight garden hose outlet fittings included.
(7) Comes with garden hose fittings at each end. Intended for use only with this bait tank. Not a high-pressure hose.
(8) Designed to go on a flat, not a curved, surface. Intended for use on a 50 pound size Vittles Vault container
Complete Bait Tank Systems
Deluxe BixFish Bait Tank System. (Does not include the battery – see BixFish batteries). The Deluxe version includes a 2-rod rack and handles to ease transport and loading. Includes 10 feet of inlet hose with fittings, 30″ of outlet hose with fittings, and the transom-mounted bait tank pump with right angle and straight pump outlets.
Basic BixFish Bait Tank System. (Does not include the battery – see BixFish batteries). The Basic version is identical to the Deluxe version, but without the addition of the 2-rod rack or the handles. Includes 10 feet of inlet hose with fittings, 30″ of outlet hose with fittings, and the transom-mounted bait tank pump with right angle and straight pump outlets.
Both bait tank versions come with a transom-mounted clamp-on pump. The pump includes a specially designed inlet which fits under the transom to maintain proper water flow into the pump even at high boat speeds, a unique feature of this system. There is no need to prime this pump. The pump also includes a cartridge check valve that can be easily removed for cleaning if it becomes fouled for any reason, for instance if fishing over loose grass.
The inlet hose attaches with garden hose fittings. At the end of fishing, after you have dumped extra bait in the tank you won’t use, disconnect the pump end and let the inlet hose dangle on the drive back to the ramp. The tank will empty itself by siphon action, and you will be left with only a few pounds of water in the tank, not the 100 pounds the tank holds.
A right-angle pump outlet fitting is included, which postitions the inlet hose vertically.
The pump inlet is specially designed to fit up under the transom to insure that there is a clean water flow into the pump at any speed. The sloped grill front sheds grass and kelp.As a result, this pump works at all boat speeds. Unlike side-mounted pumps, this pump does not need to be removed when running at high speed, and your bait will continue to get fresh water.
The inlet hose attaches with a garden hose fitting. At the end of fishing, after you have dumped extra bait in the tank you won’t use, disconnect this fitting and let the inlet hose dangle on the drive back to the ramp. The tank will empty itself by siphon action, and you will be left with only a few pounds of water in the tank, not the 100 pounds of water the tank holds.
Accessories
Track Hooks for Inlet Hose, 6 hooks.
Used to hold the inlet hose alongside either the inside or the outside of a BixFish track, as it runs from the pump at the transom to the bait tank which typically is positioned near the front of the boat.
Just clip the hook onto the track,and then place the hose in the hose hook. Supplied in a bag of six clips. If you purchase a complete bait tank, your choice of a bag of these or a bag of the oar hooks is included with the bait tank.
Oar Hooks for Inlet Hose, 6 hooks.
Used to hold the inlet hose alongside either the inside or the outside of a BixFish track, as it runs from the pump at the transom to the bait tank which typically is positioned near the front of the boat.
Just clip the hook onto the track,and then place the hose in the hose hook. Supplied in a bag of six clips. If you purchase a complete bait tank, your choice of a bag of these or a bag of the oar hooks is included with the bait tank.
Rod Rack Kit, with hardware
A 2-rod rack you can add yourself to a BixFish bait tank.
A stainless steel hardware kit consisting of 4 sets of 10-24 button head screw, a #10 fender washer, and a 10-24 nyloc nut is included, along with hex key for the button head screws. Use silicone sealant (not included) on both sides of the screw holes in the tank to get a good water seal.
This holder can be installed on the front, or the back, side of the bait tank. It won’t fit if installed on the side, next to a pontoon.. With he rod rack in front or back of the tank, and the tank placed up behind the front seat, rods won’t iinterfere with the stabilizer bar.
Note that this rod rack is included, installed, with the deluxe bait tank package.
Handles Kit, with hardware
The bait tank has indented areas for handles which are adequate but not great. These add-on handles are extra strong, secured with double screws at each end, and make it easier to lift and carry the tank, even with some water in it. Nowever, note that a full tank has about 100 pounds of water, and should not be lifted more than half full.
A hardware kit is included with the handles, consisting of 8 stainless steel sets ofa 10-24×1/2″ screw, a 1o-24 nyloc nut, and a fender washer. Silicone sealant is not required for this installation as the holes are above the tank waterline.
Bait Tank Components
Components are available for purchase separately should you want to use some or all of the components to build your own bait tank.
Transom Clamp-On Bait Tank Pump
The bait pump comes with a bracket for transom mounting. Some Scout Inflatable boats have 12″ transoms while others are 14″, so I will need you to measure your transom height at the place the pump will be placed. The final position is adjustable about 3/4″ to either side of the measurement you provide.
The pump includes an integral cartridge check valve, and the clamp. Please note the clamp is not stainless steel, and needs to be flushed with fresh water and a drop of oil applied after each use, especially in salt water.
The pump will be supplied with bare ends on the electrical wires, unless you order a battery from me, in which case I’ll attach the mating connector to plug into the battery.
The pump very efficient, at only nominally 3/4 amp required. The pump turns the water in the tank over about 6-8 times per hour.
Inlet Hose
The inlet hose is 3/4″ pond tubing. I supply a 10′ length, with a male garden hose fitting on one end to connect to the tank, and female garden hose fitting on the other end, to connect to the water pump.
Inlet Fitting
The inlet fitting is designed to direct incoming water along the tank wall, to set up a rotating current in the tank the bait to swim against. It can be used on an flat surface and placed low, as in the BixFish tanks, or high, in the water column. (It’s low in the BixFish tanks to allow water to be siphoned out easily when done fishing). The fitting includes a pvc riser, secured in a strain relief, with a female swivel garden hose fitting, so that the inlet hose can be easily attached or removed.
Outlet Fitting and Hose
The outlet fitting is placed at the top of tank – the water level in the tank will be about an inch above the top of the outlet fitting. The outlet fitting in turn needs to be at or above the pontoon height, or water will back up trying to flow over the pontoon. On the outside, the fitting has a 1-1/4 female NPT thread to accept the outlet hose. On the inside there is provision to attach one of two included screens – a coarse screen for larger bait, and a finer screen for smaller bait. The screen chosen needs to be large enough to pass scales, but small enough to stop bat from excaping through the outlet.
The outlet hose is 1-1/4″ corrugated tubing with 1-1/4″ male NPT threaded fitting, to attach to the outlet fitting. The threaded fitting has a custom installed oring to ensure that it seals with the tank, and as a result the outlet fitting and outlet hose are sold as a set, as one won’t work without the other.
Included Hole Templates
A template to aid in locating the center of the face for the inlet or outlet fittings is included with the purchase of either or both of these fittings.
A hole template to aid in drilling the 8 screws used to attach the outlet fitting is included with the purchase of an outlet fitting.
