Sandeel??

Just wondering if any one has(and if so how) got their own sandeel from beaches ect

Mark

Iv seen lads getting them with nets i think in a spot i fish alot in waterford got a few live ones off a fella one day and 3rd cast bang....bass! would like 2 no myself how ud go about getting them.

I was talking to some Welsh guy was fishing off fenit pier during the summer he would foul hook them using a series of hooks on a line as they were swimming around the piles of the pier. I read somewhere once you can spin for larger ones using really small mepps.

Also at low tide they hide in the sand near the water line you supposed to be able to scrape them out with a pike or a hooky thing (the name of which I've forgotten) but look out for weevers!.

Have caught alot on a beach in Kerry that I dig my lug on.They are usually close to the low water line in about an inch of sand.If you use a flat tipped fork and draw it along it brings them to the surface but you have to be quick.

Also at low tide they hide in the sand near the water line you supposed to be able to scrape them out with a pike or a hooky thing (the name of which I've forgotten) but look out for weevers!.

:shock: Didnt know you got Weevers here, do you get them as far up as Connemara and Mayo???

As regards Sandeels in Connemara last summer all you needed was a kiddies fishing net and scoop them up in their hundreds as they swam around your legs on the beach.

have caught weevers off the beach in the the Sligo area, never heard of them before till another guy fishing warned me - he had got stung by one , said his hand ached for a week :-((

fishing nr bellmullet in the summer there were hundreds of sandeels swimming around the small jetty - wee kids fishing net would have done the job.

davy[/quote]

[blackiemc]

Hello,
Here's my tuppence worth!

Harvesting sandeels is a very tough job if you don't go to a place where they are known to be.
The first time I tried for them I dug along the waterfront of a beach at very low tide for an hour and got one sandeel :shock:

On my way back to the car a local told me where I should be digging for them, have managed to get them there on occasions since (sometimes plentiful, sometimes scarce). You can 'dig' for them at night as well as day (maybe better at night), but as far as I know there needs to be a very good strand.

I don't yet know where a supply of them exists in Connemara, in my part of Connemara I don't think they're 10 a penny, but I'll be exploring.

Last August in Connemara my youngsters were also catching little fish in their nets, they were mostly sprats, although one stray sandeel did appear, I was very surprised as I have swam at that beach all my life and never saw a sandeel before.

Fenitbob, your 'hooky thing' is also called a sickle, or a reapin' hook where I'm from.

You might be able to get sandeels with a net, but first you need to know where they are living in good numbers. As far as I know they mostly live, swim, breed etc. in or very close to particular 'banks' of sand.

Blackie

Last edited by blackiemc on Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

the best way of catchin eels is by netting them , if anyone has ever bought packets of sandeels in a clear packet from tackle shops !! between dublin and cork , they have more than likely come from saleens in waterford !! its one of the best spots on the east coast for catching them !!!
you must wait until low tide up !! a net of 20ft minimum , 4ft in dept and with 2 ropes on the top and bottom will be required , they are very easy to make but lead weights on the bottom rope are essential ! as these leads scrape the top of the bank and scare the eels out of the sand . if anyone is intrested in netting eels or wanting to buy or make a net just PM me and ill be more than happy to help !!, cheers , boycie.