The best way to gather/catch sandeels

I was down for a swin last night and spotted huge shoals of sandeels swimming very close to the rocks. Only about an inch or 2 below the surface. I had a little kiddies rock pool net and managed to catch one or two but i would have been there for the night trying to catch enough for a few hours fishing. I was wondering has anyone any ideas on how best to catch them. I was thinking about using a minnow trap with a few tennis balls inside to keep it on the surface. Do sand eels chase bait, if i put a crushed up mack in the bait pouch would this draw them in. Or would a hand full of bread crumbs thrown into the trap work. Any ideas will be a help and i'll let ye know how i get on.

Regards,
Evan

if you google sandeel netting there is a u tube video of guys netting them with a net made out of green builders mesh, made one last year some succes but some flaws havent had time to make adjustments yet but u will see the basic prinicipal on that video .You could also get a bread knife a grind it down so it has a hook on the end and pull it through the sand when a sandeel feels it it will shoot to the surface just make sure you have heavy gloves in case you come across a weaver .The sandeels wont give you enough time to c if it i a sandeel or weaver as they are fast little fellows .Netting is done during the day when they are shoaling and if digging or pulling the knife i like to do it at night as sandeels usually bury in sand when it gets dark saying that i got about 50 one day last summer with a fork digging as fast as i could

if you google sandeel netting there is a u tube video of guys netting them with a net made out of green builders mesh, made one last year some succes but some flaws havent had time to make adjustments yet but u will see the basic prinicipal on that video .You could also get a bread knife a grind it down so it has a hook on the end and pull it through the sand when a sandeel feels it it will shoot to the surface just make sure you have heavy gloves in case you come across a weaver .The sandeels wont give you enough time to c if it i a sandeel or weaver as they are fast little fellows .Netting is done during the day when they are shoaling and if digging or pulling the knife i like to do it at night as sandeels usually bury in sand when it gets dark saying that i got about 50 one day last summer with a fork digging as fast as i could

There is only a small bit of sand on this beach and even that's pretty broken ground. I think using a vingler would be pretty tough work. Also the water is fairly deep around the rocks where the sand eels can be accessed while they're near the surface so it would be tricky to drag a net through the shoal. That's why is was thinking of some kind of trap, just chuck in out and let it do it's work.

I was going to try a trap this year one like lake anglers use for getting brickeens im sure they will work i dont know if they are attracted to a fish bait only one way of finding out post up if you have any luck good or bad.

If you want to get inventive, how about a little net and a remote control boat to pull it around the shoal?



NOTE: I have never done this, in fact I just thought it up on the spot; so I'm aware there could be many flaws with the idea

If you want to get inventive, how about a little net and a remote control boat to pull it around the shoal?



NOTE: I have never done this, in fact I just thought it up on the spot; so I'm aware there could be many flaws with the idea

That could be the makings of a funny post anyway. Worlds smallest trawller. I don't have a tiny boat or miniature trawl nets but it's somethin i'll keep in mind.

you just made my life a real pain as jordan just spotted this and he has a radio controlled speed boat at home and now wants to know where he can get an old onion sack from this has disaster and laughter written all over this. i'll charge up the camcorder and let you know how we get on

It might be easier to pull a draft or seine net around them than trawl through them.

It might be easier to pull a draft or seine net around them than trawl through them.

It's well over wading depth where the eels are in large shoals so i can't drag a net through them. That's why i'm asking about the trap.

:lol: you just made my life a real pain as jordan just spotted this and he has a radio controlled speed boat at home and now wants to know where he can get an old onion sack from this has disaster and laughter written all over this. i'll charge up the camcorder and let you know how we get on

Good luck with it jordan. If the trap doesn't work then the rc boat might be the only other option so keep us posted on ye're results.

u damage esturies netting

will do man

u damage esturies netting

It's not an estuary and i'm not planning on netting.