A bait bucket temporarily stores fishing bait and water within a water stable bucket component having a water-tight base and side walls and a top opening. A locking cap is removeably secured around the top opening in the bucket component and further includes a connector receiving a pivoting closing cap and a locking snap-in element that temporarily secures the pivoting closing cap to the locking cap. A handle pivotably attaches to the bucket component enabling lifting of the bait bucket.