Brackish/Saltwater (habitat) them boys love chicken livers/gizzzards, clams (crushed up and diced finely), snowflake rolls dipped in fish/cooked fish oil, or any combination of "yuch" you can think of. Use a minow trap (either wire or plastic), leave it set for 20-40 minutes and you will have 2-4 dozen to use as bait. The predators most frequently caught on these guys are Flounder, Croaker, Red Drum (Puppy Drum), Stripers, Blue Fish, and occasionally Spanish/Cero Mackerl. Tight Lines

also you can take a foot section of panty hoses. put two smushed up peices of bread in it and stretch it across the minnow trap and tie each end of with twine. then slice small slits in it. And presto bait for minnows,

Throw two slices of pork bacon in the trap and catch all the minnows you want.

leave OC hightide
eat a piece of fried chicken
put remains in minnow trap
submerge trap next to grass island
drink one beer per lap around said island
repeat as desired
plenty of minnows

offer free leftover minnows at ramp when finshed
Have fun !

Okay so let me get this right, they'll eat just about anything you put into a minnow trap. I have my boat docked in smith point marina at the mouth of the potomac river (virginia side) It's a little inlet there, i'm not sure if it's really brackish but i'm guessing it would be a little bit. Do you think they would be in there?

What do they look like so i know if i'm catching the right kind of minnow?

Thanks!

ive seen those minnows just about everywhere, so im sure they will be there. just dont let your trap sit too long, eels like 'em too...for obvious reasons.

nothing wrong with eels. if you can catch some in the 6-7 inch size they are great founder bait

Are these minnows around year round? Or do they start to get active when water temps rise?

I've seen them up in the western-branch of lynhaven around my dock the past couple of days in the afternoon when the sun has been warming the water, good luck.
Claude.

very true, but when you expect a pot full of minnows and the eel has eaten all of them....that can kinda sour the mood. and usually there is one eel and hes not exactly flounder bait....ha