Brine Recipe?

[KnotGolfin']

Does anyone have a good Brine Recipe? What is your secret mixes? I'd appreciate some help. Looking to brine some mackerel this weekend and fill the freezer.

Thanks,

Knot

[Captain Michael Buffington]

equal parts baking soda and non iodized salt...supposed to be the equivalent of that bionic ballyhoo recipe.

Mike

[offshore]

We use 1/2 kosher salt and 1/2 borax... Mark

[BTH284]

I 2nd the mix listed above. I use mostly kosher salt mixed with a baking soda and a touch of borax. You need to be careful with your borax and not add to much. It will dry the bait out just like the taxidermy man used to dry out game.

[KnotGolfin']

Thanks guys. I have some Kosher Salt and Baking Soda ready to roll for this weekend. One or two bags of ice should do it?

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Thanks guys. I have some Kosher Salt and Baking Soda ready to roll for this weekend. "One or two bags of ice should do it?"

but that depends on your cooler

Mike

[Kahi]

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago....preserving and Defrosting Ballyhoo <----This thread might have some additional answers to your question.

Do yo guys put the bait of choice directly into the wet brine while the bait is still alive? So from net/sabiki directly into a cooler full of ice/salt/salt water/baking soda and/or borax?

[EMTAE]

Picking salt and banking soda with fresh saltwater along with ice leave in for 8hrs and repeat it all again.Or you can put the juice to-em.

[Glenn W]

What Charlie said for trolling baits. Assuming you don't have any juice one thing that really seems to make a big difference for Spanish Macks ( I know you're dealing with Boston's) for trolling baits is to have your salt/Ice slurry ready and put the macks in this slurry as soon as they are caught--- don't throw in a cooler on top of ice for a couple of hours then brine them--- it's almost too late then. Mix the salt (and some Baking soda) concentrated enough that your hand aches from cold just dunking it into the slurry---- i.e., lots and lots of salt--- almost to the saturation point. Handle the Macks as little as possible and try to de hook w/o even touching the fish (shake em off the hook into the slurry. for trolling baits, gut after several hours in brine and return to the brine a good 8 hrs or so.
For shark bait and chunking, I have no idea.

[rarhomes]

Does anyone know if you can over brine ? Will salt burn a bait ? I see some baits done by some of the major bait co's that look yellow or burnt.

Capt Rick