Sand Eel

Sand Eel

Sand Eels

An eel-like fish which swim in large shoals, that's the sand eel. They are abundant and an important part of the fish food chain. The sand eel is a bait fish that every one bait fishing knows about but I believe few realise the potential of. Sand eels often catch more fish than any other bait, just ask the guys down south or in Wales.

Exactly why the sand eel is such a popular 'bait fish' amongst the predators in the sea is hard to know. It seems to account for most species when used as bait especially the likes of Bass, Mackerel, Pollack Garfish, Trout and even Salmon.

The sand eel can be fished in several different ways and are normally best fished as a 'live bait'. It can be hooked through the mouth - up through the head, through the back, through the tail or through the skin on the kneck. I don't think personally it matters too much how the hook it set as long as the sand eel stays alive and looks natural. Different species of fish will attack and take a bait in various ways.

Finding sand eels can sometimes prove hard but by asking about in your own local area you might find a boat, or tackle shop that can supply you. Otherwise it means gathering your own. The effort in gathering your own is well worth it because of the effectiveness of this great bait!

The best methods to present sand eels are by using them under a float or on a long snood on a bottom rig. The hooks most folk use are often circle hooks for bottom fishing and normal single or triple hooks when fished under a float. Sand eel will catch most of what we call our 'sporting' fish in this country, especially the infamous Bass.

A 'best buy' for keeping your sand eels alive is a bait bucket, there are one or two very good ones available from good tackle shops. The Salt Bucket by Shakespeare at around £18.00 is ideal for your live sand eels utilising an aeration pump. It has it's own pouch for an aerator pump, has a lid which helps to keep the sun from cooking your eels and also stops them from jumping out! It can also be used for storage of baits such as crab, ragworm and lug worm. It's easy enough to wash it out and it is also collapsible. You can pick up a battery operated pump for around the £9 mark. Sand eel will quickly die if not kept in oxygen aerated water but do watch the temperature as you don't want your hard efforts ending up as cooked fish!

You can keep sand eels in tanks at home but it does get rather involved and I aren't able to go into the method here. Any eels that do die on you, then freeze them down and be sure NOT to let any stay in your bait bucket if they are dead as they WILL kill off the others.

Bass is thee sporting fish in British Waters now and has certainly captured the imagination of a lot of anglers over the last few years. Most of the anglers I know love spinning for them using poppers, plugs, feathers or spinners and some are even starting to fly fish for them. Another very successful method used for Bass fishing in particular, is dead bait spinning and this is a method I would highly recommend.

There are a lot of benefits to using this method. You need to present the sand eel like you would a popper or plug, as an injured fish, nothing too hard in that and you get scent, colour, look and feel as an added bonus. Presenting them like this gives you the same options as using poppers etc, you can move about searching for your Bass whether it be along a surf beach, among rock gullies or between sand banks.

Just mount the dead eel on your hook by passing the hook through it's mouth and making sure the hook comes out through it's stomach and use a bit of elasticated cotton to secure it...simplicity itself.

There is another method and that is to wrap the sand eel in a slice of squid and secure the squid with a bit of elasticated cotton, leaving the head and tail of the sand eel protruding. This method helps to protect the eel and it should keep a lot longer on the hook before having to change it. Use a small weight on the end of your line, you can get small spinning weights which prevent the dreaded line twist. A hook snood as long as possible to comfortably use to a decent sized hook, add your bait, most species have larger mouths than we tend to give them credit for and away you go.

Remember that Bass are a 'sporting' fish and as such are used to chasing their prey. They will often be found round rocks, on the downside of a sand bank waiting for their next meal to show itself. Don't be afraid to vary your retrieval rate, you would be surprised at the speed bass, mackerel etc can move at. You will often see a 'swirl' next to your bait as you retrieve, don't stop, keep the retrieve the same, if the fish doesn't hit your bait straight away, stop the retrieve for about 10 seconds then start again, this is when a bass will often take.

Sand eel is an excellent sea fishing bait.

Happy fishing.

Author's Resource: Article on Sand Eels as a Fishing Bait.
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Raitts Sand Eel $79.66 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Raitts sand eel, Ammodytes marinus, is a fish in the Ammodytidae family. It contains likenesses to the lesser sand eel. Its distinguished by the fact of that belly scales are found to be irregularly formed; and having no scales on the lobes of the tail. Furthermore, the dorsal fin is made of at least 56 to 63 rays, with an overall maximum length, nonexceeding the 25cm. The fish color can range to turquoise of the back, to the silvery sides and belly. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 120 Publication Date: 2010/09/09 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.28 inches

Marbled Snake Eel, Camouflaged in Sand, Waits for Passing Prey $39.99 Paul Sutherland Marbled Snake Eel, Camouflaged in Sand, Waits for Passing Prey - Photographic Print

The Eel $49.99 The Eel - Giclee Print

Eel $49.99 Eel - Giclee Print

Mastacembelus erythrotaenia Fire Eel - Large $59.99 The Fire Eel is one of the largest spiny eels. It has a brown/black elongated body that is marked with bright orange to red horizontal broken lines and spots. It has a pointed snout and its dorsal and anal fins have orange to red margins. This fish is a bottom dweller that will often bury itself in the substrate or hide in crevices and caves. It feeds on worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, fish, and sometimes plant matter. Provide small grain, smooth gravel or sand so that the fish can burrow safely, as well as tubes or rock crevices for hiding places. This fish is peaceful when kept with large tankmates, but will often consume small fish.

Mastacembelus erythrotaenia Fire Eel - Small $19.99 The Fire Eel is one of the largest spiny eels. It has a brown/black elongated body that is marked with bright orange to red horizontal broken lines and spots. It has a pointed snout and its dorsal and anal fins have orange to red margins. This fish is a bottom dweller that will often bury itself in the substrate or hide in crevices and caves. It feeds on worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, fish, and sometimes plant matter. Provide small grain, smooth gravel or sand so that the fish can burrow safely, as well as tubes or rock crevices for hiding places. This fish is peaceful when kept with large tankmates, but will often consume small fish.

Electric Eel $39.99 Electric Eel - Giclee Print

Moray Eel $49.99 Moray Eel - Giclee Print

Myrichthys breviceps Sharptail Snake Eel $69.99 The Sharptail Snake Eel ( Myrichthys breviceps ) is light gray with black edged yellow spots the length of the body and brighter gold spots on the head and face. Snake eels are generally skinnier in body shape and more like their reptilian counterparts than the Moray Eels more common in the aquarium trade. They are less common and more difficult than most morays and can be difficult to feed. Snake Eels are carnivores and should be fed meaty foods like small fish, shrimp, crabs and similar items. They can be difficult to wean onto frozen or prepared foods and may only eat live items. These eels also need a deep sand bed and open areas as they spend much of their time buried in the substrate with only their head uncovered. They do not actively harm or eat corals but can be hazardous in reef tanks as their size and activity can topple or collapse some structures. They can be easily harassed or intimidated by some mroe aggressive fish; choose tankmates carefully. While eels are not venomous, their mouths are full of bacteria and bites can get easily infected; avoid hand-feeding eels and be aware of the eel's location and behavior at all times . The teeth of most eels are curved and quickly pulling away once bit can cause the bite to be worsened; most eels bite out of defense and curiosity and will usually let go quickly. The tank should be covered tightly at all times since eels are prone to escaping from aquariums, especially if threatened. Weights or tank lid locks can be necessary for larger eels that might be able to knock the lid open. This is a Restricted item and is not covered by our Arrive Alive 5-Day Guarantee. Please visit the Guarantee Policy and Restricted Species webpages for more information.

Myrichthys colubrinus Banded Snake Eel $39.99 The Banded Snake Eel ( Myrichthys colunbrinus ) is slender with an overhanging snout used to forage for food. It has black and white bands from snout to tail. These eels are docile and harmless; their coloration mimics that of a venomous sea snake to deter predators. Snake eels are generally skinnier in body shape and more like their reptilian counterparts than the Moray Eels more common in the aquarium trade. They are less common and more difficult than most morays and can be difficult to feed. Snake Eels are carnivores and should be fed meaty foods like small fish, shrimp, crabs and similar items. They can be difficult to wean onto frozen or prepared foods and may only eat live items. These eels also need a deep sand bed and open areas as they spend much of their time buried in the substrate with only their head uncovered. They do not actively harm or eat corals but can be hazardous in reef tanks as their size and activity can topple or collapse some structures. They can be easily harassed or intimidated by some mroe aggressive fish; choose tankmates carefully. While eels are not venomous, their mouths are full of bacteria and bites can get easily infected; avoid hand-feeding eels and be aware of the eel's location and behavior at all times . The teeth of most eels are curved and quickly pulling away once bit can cause the bite to be worsened; most eels bite out of defense and curiosity and will usually let go quickly. The tank should be covered tightly at all times since eels are prone to escaping from aquariums, especially if threatened. Weights or tank lid locks can be necessary for larger eels that might be able to knock the lid open. This is a Restricted item and is not covered by our Arrive Alive 5-Day Guarantee. Please visit the Guarantee Policy and Restricted Species webpages for more information.

Pelican Eel $34.99 Sandra J. Raredon Pelican Eel - Photographic Print

An Electric Eel $39.99 George Grall An Electric Eel - Photographic Print

A Moray Eel $24.99 Peter Medilek A Moray Eel - Photographic Print

ZAGGskins (Water Eel) $19.99 ZAGGskins (Water Eel)

Latico Leathers Eel-ectricity $94.99 Eel-ectricity Color: Turquoise

Sharp-Nosed Eel and Broad-Nosed Eel $19.99 A.f. Lydon Sharp-Nosed Eel and Broad-Nosed Eel - Premium Poster

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Experience With An Eel $8.99 "Dr. Moon and his assistants demonstrates the shocking power of the electric eel, which lives in the fresh waters of the Amazon Basin. The eel can discharge an electrical impulse capable of killing a horse. The study of the eel helps to answer many questions concerning the relationship of science and the Word of God."

Inflatable Eel $1.99 This product includes 1 inflatable eel that is made of plastic and measures approximatley 40" long.

Hot Eel Soup for Sale $39.99 Hot Eel Soup for Sale - Giclee Print

Wolf Eel (Anarrhichthys Ocellatus) $39.99 Wolf Eel (Anarrhichthys Ocellatus) - Photographic Print

Goldentail Moray Eel $39.99 George Grall Goldentail Moray Eel - Photographic Print

Whitemouth Moray Eel $39.99 George Grall Whitemouth Moray Eel - Photographic Print

Belvedere Monza (Men's) - Camel Eel $222.95 The Monza is a stylish dress sandal with a slingback sandal, a square toe, and a genuine eel upper. Available Colors: Black Eel, Camel Eel, Smoke Eel.

Belvedere Monza (Men's) - Smoke Eel $222.95 The Monza is a stylish dress sandal with a slingback sandal, a square toe, and a genuine eel upper. Available Colors: Black Eel, Camel Eel, Smoke Eel.

Belvedere Monza (Men's) - Black Eel $222.95 The Monza is a stylish dress sandal with a slingback sandal, a square toe, and a genuine eel upper. Available Colors: Black Eel, Camel Eel, Smoke Eel.

Snubnosed Eel $79.66 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The snubnosed eel, Simenchelys parasitica, also known as the pugnosed eel, slime eel, or snubnose parasitic eel, is a species of deepsea eel and the only member of its genus. Some authors classify it as the sole member of the subfamily Simenchelyinae of the family Synaphobranchidae, or cutthroat eels, while others place it in its own monotypic family, the Simenchelyidae.It is found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, typically at a depth of 5001,800 m (1,6005,900 ft) near the bottom. Although typically a scavenger, it is better known for using its powerful jaws and teeth to burrow into larger fishes as a parasite. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 104 Publication Date: 2010/08/21 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.25 inches