Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:23 am

I know that once peelers thaw out to refreeze them is pretty much pointless.I was out during the week and have a packet of unopened blast frozen sandeels leftover!it would have felt a crime to simply discard them, so i threw them back in the freezer.im going for a cast tomarrow and i am wondering will i bother with the sandeels?or would i be just feeding the crabs!
ive heard a few of different opinions mostly negative (for reusing them) i guess what im praying to hear is that "yes fergal you can use them".
your wisdom would be much appreciated cheers.

tightlines

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:48 am

if its just for pleasure angling then never throw away any bait, never!

it can all be used again - even if its turning to mush you can use it as ground bait - the more likely problem there will be the freezer stinking and filling up

some days the manky mac catches more fish than the fresh stuff

caught plenty of flounder on refrozen lug a number of times

razor gets better the more you freeze them

the dodgy ones would be the sandeels as they are all about the blood coming out of the central vein - when that goes mussy they loose their effective ness

stick them in an old thermos flask to keep them frozen and you only thaw the ones you are actually going to use on your next few casts

as regards those peelers - if you wanted to have a solid bash at big wrasse i wouldnt be throwing them away either - far more effective than worms on the float

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:54 am

With the eels fully thawed out and then re-frozen when you thaw them out again they will be very soft they will be more difficult to bind on to the hook And it is a lot easier for the crabs to strip the bait from the hooks.
When you thaw them out bend one of them if the belly bursts I would say throw them away but that's just my opinion as a match angler.

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:08 pm

fergal check this link out:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31768
there was a discussion here back in november under the same subject.
in my opinion yes, definitely refreeze bait. i can assure you that you will catch fish - just as long as its not totally rancid, that the bait will stay on the hook, and maybe that you arent targeting 'fussy' fish.. as such. flatties, ray, dogs, wrasse, and many others, are opportunistic feeders...

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:43 pm

I dont use sandeels much but have found refrozen sandeels very good for dogfish.

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Sat Feb 12, 2011 4:22 pm

thanks a million lads!a lot more confident for my fishing tomarrow!very helpful cheers.
:) tightlines

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:12 pm

RockHunter wrote:I dont use sandeels much but have found refrozen sandeels very good for dogfish.

:lol: :lol: yea frank like you go out targeting them :lol:

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:28 pm

Good quality frozen bait would be always be my first choice for match angling but sometimes refrozen bait can work. As a rule I would never refreeze thawed out sandeels, mackerel, crab, but that's only because I'm a match angler.
I not saying that refrozen sandeels, crab, or mackerel won't catch fish of course it will, there are no undertakers in the sea to dispose of dead carcase's so everything will get eaten eventually. Rougher conditions will usually stir up the sea bed and throw out the decomposing carcase's and fish will happily feed on this. Fresher frozen bait will have a higher sent/blood output and for this reason it will always be better.

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:25 pm

roger de dodger wrote:yea frank like you go out targeting them :lol:

That's why I said I dont use sandeels much, just get pestered with dogfish.
Although occasionally when there is not much happening I tip a hook with a sliver of sandeel (if I happened to have have a few with me or more likely find a few by rooting around in the sand beside the rod stand) and there is a good chance of a dogfish in less than ten minutes.

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:35 pm

you are all obviously very advanced anglers 8) i had a horrendous session on sunday! i used some of the sandeels and mack but not a bite so couldnt judge if they worked or not.theres certanly a rank smell when you thaw them out for the second time though.
(words of wisdom) added to my knowledge cheers again lads
tight lines

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Tue Feb 15, 2011 12:04 am

refreeze 'em. try again. you'll catch a few fish with them next time.
set up a rod beside it with fresh stuff. lets us know..
tight lines

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:10 am

I agree with RockHunter refrozen sandeel are great for dog fish,the last session I had i caught 10 dogs and 2 huss on refrozen sandeel,it worked so good that I didn't re bait during the session,just the skin of the sandeel on the hook was catching, I find refrozen mackerel great for ray as well

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Tue Feb 15, 2011 1:31 pm

gfkelly1969 wrote:I agree with RockHunter refrozen sandeel are great for dog fish,the last session I had i caught 10 dogs and 2 huss on refrozen sandeel,it worked so good that I didn't re bait during the session,just the skin of the sandeel on the hook was catching, I find refrozen mackerel great for ray as well

i wish:)love to catch a doggie :)

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:20 pm

Over here on the mainland I prefer refrozen eels to fresh out of the packet as long as they are ammo.

They have taken Rays Turbot Bass gunard pout and dogs to name a few

We fished the beare last year in June (and will again this year) and brought loads of eels with us they did defrost on the way over however we used them with good results during our stay.

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:09 pm

corbyeire wrote:if its just for pleasure angling then never throw away any bait, never!

it can all be used again - even if its turning to mush you can use it as ground bait - the more likely problem there will be the freezer stinking and filling up

some days the manky mac catches more fish than the fresh stuff

caught plenty of flounder on refrozen lug a number of times

razor gets better the more you freeze them

the dodgy ones would be the sandeels as they are all about the blood coming out of the central vein - when that goes mussy they loose their effective ness

stick them in an old thermos flask to keep them frozen and you only thaw the ones you are actually going to use on your next few casts

as regards those peelers - if you wanted to have a solid bash at big wrasse i wouldnt be throwing them away either - far more effective than worms on the float

i could add nothing top of it perfect explanation never ever throw bait, if you dont wanna use as a bait ,mash it with somebread crum and use as a ground bait

Re: Refreezing bait after a session!still effective?

Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:25 am

fishy1987 wrote:i wish:)love to catch a doggie :)
head up to galway and you will get one