Was looking to gauge the interest in some eel skins.

I mean BIG eel skins like A 40 size and larger.

I have a seafood guy that we use at work that I've gotten them from before, nice big healthy live eels.

I would like to skin a bunch a once and just get it out of the way.

Anyone interested, how many would you take?

What is a good price too?

I've always just skinned em for myself.

Or if anyone prefers you can buy the whole eel and do it yourself.

Let me know so I can tell my guy how many I want.

Thanks guys.

I'd be interested in a few if your willing to ship them. Whatever the price you need would be fine with me since I can hardly ever find any large enough. I was able to get a few from the edge last year and still have 1 -2 skins soaking.

I'd be interested in a couple horsies. I live close to Paul. If you are shipping, perhaps we can combine the order.

yeah i would ship them, not an issue.

ill keep you posted.

I would also be interested in a few big enough to fit a 40.
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I would definately be interested Chris. Ive never used them before but have acquired some skin plugs and would like to learn how. How many? Well thats a good question, how long do they last? I know they can be kept frozen, is a dozen too many? Totally new to them, but very interested.

I would be interested in them buy the hundred
Big Dave

Gonna be a super special in some restaurant on eel entrees. :)

Gonna be a super special in some restaurant on eel entrees. :)

If you've never tried it, eels are good eats :drool:. Done right, of course.
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I would also be interested chris and will gladly pay

I would be interested and would gladly pay.
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MORE THAN HAPPY TO BUY SOME.10 or so would be great...the BIGGER the better

interested as well Chris...a half dozen or so......

I would be interested in a half dozen as well. Thanks for offering.

Cool!!

Once I figure out what they cost me I'll let everyone know.

I some of the money to go to the site as well.

What's a fair price for a big eel skin??
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Well I know nothing about eel skins but if an eel costs $2.00 shouldn't the skin cost 1/2 that or equal to that, I would want a couple. I just hope my wife doesn't find them in the freezer

Like this?

I'm in for a few. Let me know when you get your hands on them, Chris.
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Yeah like that or bigger.

Bob unfortunately the pricing doesn't work that way, big eels usually run a lot more.

I'll find out next week.
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Im in for a dozen, please let me know. Thank you

Cool!!

What's a fair price for a big eel skin??
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OK, so about 5 years ago I had Beverly Morajadan at Big Bear Sporting Goods in RI order me a dozen large eel skins. They cost me $36.00 with tax so they were just under $3.00 each. These were P40 size.

The reason they are more expensive than eels is the labor and processing involved. They ones I bought were salted and dried. I still have 2 or 3 left from 5 years ago.

Chris, I will take a dozen if you are skinning, salting and drying them.

Seems like a lot of work for $3 bucks each, though.

I'm good for a couple:rotf2:

If you get skins becuase the eels are being eaten or live ones used as bait then they die and you skin them then the cost of the skins is reasonably low. If you are buying eels just to skin them and throw the rest away , the price will be very high.

You got the right idea about doing a lot at once though Chris. that is a nasty job so once slimed you want to do enough so you don't have to do it again for a long time.

Big skins for attachment to plugs should last someone a long time unless of course the plug is lost altogether. They can be used , resalted, used , resalted , etc. So its kind of like buying a plug .

Now I would think there would be a market for some of the smaller eel skins too. For jigging. This time of year or in a week or two anyway , skins tied to jigs are good substitutes for herring. Unlike most of the year when you want the max length , you would tie them on to the jighead short so the whole thing is maybe 6 inches long, maybe 7. Also for this time of year you would leave them inside out.

Anyway , good luck with the whole project Chris. people are lucky to have someone willing to do the skinning. It should not be a bargaining thing at all. the eels cost money , its not easy work , skin , clean , salt bag. I would think $5 is easily a reasonable price for big plug skins, maybe more if the eels have gone up. Only way to keep the cost down is to find someone who wants the eels for food. maybe talk to people at a chinese restaurant. They may want the skinned eels. not to serve at the restaurant but to eat themselves.

Good Luck.

Yeah I've done it in the past, it's a messy job.

I can get some eels for free and skin them.

The big ones are tougher to get.

My seafood guy is going to work on the price.

Hopefully it works out.

Try and skin a bunch a once is the only way to go.
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Chris, if you want to skin them on a weekend let me know I'll come down or meet you somewhere.

Maybe we can do a skin fest if people want to chip in.

Yeah like that or bigger.

Bob unfortunately the pricing doesn't work that way, big eels usually run a lot more.

I'll find out next week.
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It was just wishful thinking

I will get in on some. They can be part of the PaulS, Kierran shipment if it's ok with them. A local shop gets $5 a piece for them. I feel better if someone eats the eels :)

I'd be interested in at least 3 dozen. I'll watch this forum for your progress.

at least a dozen here and I think $3-4 is a good price

i'm in for a dozen myself, thanks for the offer.

I think you're well into the hundreds of eels here... That's an @$$ load of skinning.

Chris, remember I was first to say I would take a dozen.:)

I bought One large eel at the fish market around Christmas time and paid 13.00 bucks for the one eel and then I had to skin it myself. Eels meant to eat are not cheap. The one eel was big enough for an a-40 but not for an cowboy. So it was big but not super huge. Might get a discount on a large order but it won't be cheep.skinning them to boot....$20.00 a skin.is what I suspect. I forget what I paid at macos a few years ago. But large ones were hard to find in that bucket.
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I'd be interested in a dozen or two.
K

Maco's mostly micros were around $2 last I bought em, but you would need to open em and splice 4 together to get em around a40's

How much are we talking for 6??? Id like to Skin a plug or 2 this year!

You guys get the sense that there is a viable business to be had here?

I bought One large eel at the fish market around Christmas time and paid 13.00 bucks for the one eel and then I had to skin it myself. Eels meant to eat are not cheap. The one eel was big enough for an a-40 but not for an cowboy. So it was big but not super huge. Might get a discount on a large order but it won't be cheep.skinning them to boot....$20.00 a skin.is what I suspect. I forget what I paid at macos a few years ago. But large ones were hard to find in that bucket.
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Did you eat the eel??? They are so yummy.
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Haha! Lol No I did not I froze the thing and then skinned it a few weeks ago. The thing was gross, and the eels I have had in sushi rolls I didn't enjoy. Eels will always be bait to me.
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I'd be interested in a few dozen.

MORE THAN HAPPY TO BUY SOME.10 or so would be great...the BIGGER the better

You'll need a prehistoric eel for that "PIKE":rotf2:

I'd be interest in a dozen or so. I would be willing to meet up and skin them myself it that makes it easier. Seems like you have a lot of eels to eat at this point. I missed if you were planning to use the meat.

For something you don't hear much about, there's a lot of interest.
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There are lots of posts about eel skins and rigged eels although not so much lately.

The big use of skins for those buying from Mako is for skin jigs at the canal and those can be the smaller skins from the size eels we usually cast to stripers.

You might also find that people who use skins and have a supply source are pretty closed lipped about it.

I notice you guys are in Warren, RI and recall the trips to visit with BOB BRYDEN way back in the olden days. He was on the road alongside the Police Station, up the River a ways. Had only one leg but he was as swift around a skiff as most guys with two. Always talked about his days out "Coon" hunting, chasing through the woods at night!!!!
We would call ahead and pick up 300 or more 20 to 24 inch 'starved,thin' silver bellied and also 50 or so big eels, 36 inch size, fat as a Danny Plug.
We used them for Skin Plugs and I always towed a big eel when out swordfishing.
The old story was, "Big Bait, Big Fish" and that holds true!!!!
Bob would be over a hundred if alive but he did have a nephew that I think took over from him.
When Herring are around the Blue side out short skin works well. Don't try a big dark side out full length skin plug in the doldrums, you might catch a monster bass!

I would be interested in several.

Wow , what a blast from the past. How are you Chet? On occasion Smokey and I still talk about our night out on the "Nor-easter" :) great to hear from you.
Saltheart

skins are a well kept secret around chet's old stomping grounds. ;)

I'd go for a dozen or two. Anyone who hasn't seen an eel skin plug do its thing should. Indescribable.

by the way- smoked eels taste awesome

Hi SaltHeart and others. Yup, those were the days, back when. I have not been in a boat for 3 or more years. Legs let go and now just drive the Motor Home around the Country.
Stay Healthy..,Say "HI" to Smokey....

Id be intrested in some as well.

Usually have my fish monger save me all the skins from eels he sells for Christmas Eve. I then brine and save in a big pickle jar in frig. However I did pick up one of Gary's Big Water eelskin plugs this winter and I am looking for a skin to fit that big boy! Need a skin at least 12'' with a 1.25" diameter.

I re-rigged my eel skins plugs sunday. I had ones that fit over the needlefish and Atom Jr. but no skin for the A40.

For something you don't hear much about, there's a lot of interest.
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The real reason you don't hear much about them is because you can't get them. Why post about something you cannot get?

I think you opened up Pandora's box. By my count you need at least 100 dozen skins just to fill what the guys that posted want.

If I were you I would talk to one of the wholesale bait dealers like Tom's and see if they could supply you with that quantitiy. Then get a retail license and resell as a sideline business.

Come to think of it.....

Capt Chet:
Bob Smith, Cuttyhunk, used to have a live box of eels tied up near his boat. When skins were needed (skin plugs and tube rigs) he'd pull out about a dozen, tie them on a noose hunk from his shed on the dock and proceed to skin them. That's how I learned to skin my own.
best regards