A hands-free bait storage and retrieval apparatus for use with a bucket having a continuous side wall defining an interior area and an open top includes a mounting frame having an upper ring and a plurality of mounting fasteners configured to selectively couple the upper ring to the bucket side wall such that the upper ring is situated in the bucket interior area and adjacent the open top thereof. A basket is selectively positioned in the bucket interior area. The apparatus includes a lifting assembly having a foot pedal and a linkage operatively coupling the foot pedal to the basket, the foot pedal being movable between a deployed configuration at which the basket is at a raised configuration within the bucket interior area and a released configuration at which the basket is at a lowered configuration within the bucket interior area.
