Just started fishing for stripers from a rocky shore...should I keep the eel off the bottom with a float or just reel him in so he doesn't take off for the bottom?

first off welcome to the board

i suggest you check out the FAQ section. there is a thread all about fishing with eels.

http://www.striped-bass.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7020

try a big bobber:tm:

Welcome to S-B...

Most of the time, you want the eel on the bottom... Unless you want the smaller fish then let it stay up top...

JohnR, when I retrieved my eel, its body turned upside down. And also I got a few bumps on it last Sat on the Hull. But I couldn't get to hook up. I was thinking if a person would use a eel on a rainy and windy night, is it possible? Well, I used the baitrunner and set it on to see if the fish was going to inhale, but nothing happened. How long should I wait for the fish to bite or inhale?