Max,
See if there is a fish farm close by that sells by the pound.
The ones locally around here sell by the gallon, but I'll be passing by an advertiser here in a couple weeks that sells them by the pound. $6.35/lb and approx. 300 fish/lb. That's a whole lot cheaper than $3.00/dozen up here from a bait shop, and they would be fresh!
Besides, I would like to tour that fish farm.