Whats the best bait for sandeels?
Need to catch some for bait and need some advice How small bait and what size hooks
Catching sandeel for bait
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saltydog
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Re: Catching sandeel for bait
Netting is the preferred method for catching sandeel for bait... if you use the search function there has been previous posts on the subject 
Shore Species 2011 (31) Ballan Wrasse, Bass, Bullhuss, Coalfish, Cod, Conger, Corkwing Wrasse, Cuckoo Ray, Dab, Dogfish, Five Bearded Rockling, Flounder, Goldsinny Wrasse, Long Spined Sea Scorpion, Mackerel, Plaice, Pollack, Poor Cod, Pouting, Rock Goby, Shanny, Shore Rockling, Short Spined Sea Scorpion, Thornback Ray, Three Bearded Rockling, Tompot Blenny, Tope, Tub Gurnard, Turbot, Undulate Ray, Whiting
Shore Species 2010 (26) - Bass, Black Goby, Bull Huss, Coalfish, Cod, Dab, Dogfish, Five Bearded Rockling, Flounder, Grey Gurnard, Lesser Weaver, Mackerel, Mullet, Plaice, Pollack, Poor cod, Pouting, Rock Goby, Shore Rockling, Silver eel, Starry Smooth Hound, Thornback Ray, Tope, Tub Gurnard, Turbot, Whiting
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Shore Species 2010 (26) - Bass, Black Goby, Bull Huss, Coalfish, Cod, Dab, Dogfish, Five Bearded Rockling, Flounder, Grey Gurnard, Lesser Weaver, Mackerel, Mullet, Plaice, Pollack, Poor cod, Pouting, Rock Goby, Shore Rockling, Silver eel, Starry Smooth Hound, Thornback Ray, Tope, Tub Gurnard, Turbot, Whiting
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MayoMan
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chenz116
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Re: Catching sandeel for bait
Species 2010.(2) Doggie, Cod
Species 2011.(12) Dab, Coalie, 5 Bearded Rockling, Whiting, Doggie, Pollock, Shanny/Common Blenny, Silver Eel, Mackerel, Wrasse, Sting Ray, Cod
Species 2012.(5) Sea Scorpion, Pollock, sand eel, mackerel, corkwing wrasse.
2012 Wishlist. Conger, Smooth Hound, Bass
Species 2011.(12) Dab, Coalie, 5 Bearded Rockling, Whiting, Doggie, Pollock, Shanny/Common Blenny, Silver Eel, Mackerel, Wrasse, Sting Ray, Cod
Species 2012.(5) Sea Scorpion, Pollock, sand eel, mackerel, corkwing wrasse.
2012 Wishlist. Conger, Smooth Hound, Bass
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henrykelly10
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beachcomber
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Re: Catching sandeel for bait
A pike or shovel works perfectly well if the sandeels are in dry sandbanks which they often are . You may damage a few but can be done without the need for more than one person. The net works very well also as stated previously.
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Bass 3rd
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Re: Catching sandeel for bait
I spent some deal of time researching this last year and came to this conclusion :
Get 30ft of 6-8 ft high builders windbreak netting (1-2mm#).... ( loads around these days !)
Use 2 x 50ft nylon ropes and secure the top and bottom of the netting with cable ties at intervals (Wrap for extra strength )
Add lead weights and some old chain at intervals to weigh down/ rattle
On the top use 1 liter plastic milk cartons for flotation ... weave rope through handles again use cable ties..
Secure two 10ft top/bottom ends of rope on each side with strong brush handle.. comfort in the haul!
Now for conditions:
Shallow harbor/backwater inlet with soft golden sand , esp where current has been shifting it.
2 people drop net at about 4ft water depth (I use a wetsuit ...) and spread out net.. pull parallel to shore. keep speed smooth and steady ... arc towards shore ... don't stop until net is completely on shore.
My first haul I had 300+ sand eels (July) pick out and place in bucket of sea water .. !!watch out for weavers!!
Storage:
Get small freezer bags. Separate eels into lots of 5/6 per bag and space out.I then use a large air pump (Got it in smyths toys) with pipes reversed to draw vacuum in bag , pinch and knot quickly.Place on pre-frozen metal sheet in freezer for optimum freezing.
Transport:
Place thermos flask in freezer for 30min , open sand eels and fill required amount for trip close up well , place in bag ..... bait stays fresh all day long.
Get 30ft of 6-8 ft high builders windbreak netting (1-2mm#).... ( loads around these days !)
Use 2 x 50ft nylon ropes and secure the top and bottom of the netting with cable ties at intervals (Wrap for extra strength )
Add lead weights and some old chain at intervals to weigh down/ rattle
On the top use 1 liter plastic milk cartons for flotation ... weave rope through handles again use cable ties..
Secure two 10ft top/bottom ends of rope on each side with strong brush handle.. comfort in the haul!
Now for conditions:
Shallow harbor/backwater inlet with soft golden sand , esp where current has been shifting it.
2 people drop net at about 4ft water depth (I use a wetsuit ...) and spread out net.. pull parallel to shore. keep speed smooth and steady ... arc towards shore ... don't stop until net is completely on shore.
My first haul I had 300+ sand eels (July) pick out and place in bucket of sea water .. !!watch out for weavers!!
Storage:
Get small freezer bags. Separate eels into lots of 5/6 per bag and space out.I then use a large air pump (Got it in smyths toys) with pipes reversed to draw vacuum in bag , pinch and knot quickly.Place on pre-frozen metal sheet in freezer for optimum freezing.
Transport:
Place thermos flask in freezer for 30min , open sand eels and fill required amount for trip close up well , place in bag ..... bait stays fresh all day long.
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hugo
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Re: Catching sandeel for bait
Bass 3rd: Thats dedication man, I salute you.... 
Mayoman: I catch them (not 300 tho!) from the boat on little shrimp rigs (from any tackle shop) drifting off a sandy shore or over the bar at an estuary. Also get launce that way in season. Only ever caught the odd one accidentally from shore, but if you tried from a ledge onto sand at the end of a suitable beach, you might get a few.
Mayoman: I catch them (not 300 tho!) from the boat on little shrimp rigs (from any tackle shop) drifting off a sandy shore or over the bar at an estuary. Also get launce that way in season. Only ever caught the odd one accidentally from shore, but if you tried from a ledge onto sand at the end of a suitable beach, you might get a few.
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Bass 3rd
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Re: Catching sandeel for bait
Thanks Hugo,
The only thing I find when catching that amount is that in even the best modern deep freeze @ -20Deg C with optimum time from sea to freezer they are very good up to 2-3 months after that their quality does reduce considerably and would say that this is the maximum shelf-life for sand eels in a domestic freezer , unless you got a commercial -40 Deg C setup.Up to this time they are greeny turquoise in colour but after 3+months take on a greeny brownish colour upon defrosting , reduced performance is noted.
Just my penny's worth..
The only thing I find when catching that amount is that in even the best modern deep freeze @ -20Deg C with optimum time from sea to freezer they are very good up to 2-3 months after that their quality does reduce considerably and would say that this is the maximum shelf-life for sand eels in a domestic freezer , unless you got a commercial -40 Deg C setup.Up to this time they are greeny turquoise in colour but after 3+months take on a greeny brownish colour upon defrosting , reduced performance is noted.
Just my penny's worth..