Rigged eel storage
 

How do you store them between outings? Should I just individually throw them in a zip lock back in the freezer with some kosher salt mixed in?

What do you do if your going out 2 days in a row - leave in refrig. in a bag or will they start to smell?

Thanks

just keep them in fridge with kosher salt I myself don't put eel skins or riggies in the freezer ever.

I freeze them. I've got eels that have been frozen/thawed I don't know how many times. They still catch on a PJ wobblehead. They stink. but they catch. Started rigging some this year, but same concept.

I just freeze them hard 1 per zip lock bag.

Don't freeze them with Kosher salt. It will make them tough and stiff and they will loose most of there great action. I keep them in a zip lock bag individually and keep the in the frig for the first couple of three trips if they are close together. If there is alot of time between surf trips I put them in the freezer. They don't last as long but they always have good action this way.

If I am going to store em for any lenght of time.I put a few in a zip lock.Cover with water then freeze em.45 mins in a pain of water to thaw out...During the season I just have a jar of brine I keep em in.A few cast's ususally limbers em up pretty good.It is best to always try to start with a few fresh ones.I have caught fish on rigged eels had to be three yrs old..

NIB- Do you use Kosher salt for your jar of brine solution? That sounds like a good way to store them. I'll give it a try.

I'm pretty sure that's how Al Bentsen stores his.

Yes, Keep adding salt till it starts to settle on the bottom.Then I usually add some more.I have a 5 gallon pail of salt..Shake it up good.You could also boil water and add salt.You get a more potent solution that way.It ends up on the bottom after time anyways.If you make sure any metal is in the solution (not protruding out of the water) the hooks won't rust.I use a bent coat hanger to dig em out.The salt messes with my hands..??
I have different jars for rigged,Jigs and whole dead that I just save for use at another time.
I use bigger Pretzel jars for large plugs.
When I go to fish em I will roll em up in a damp rag put em in a cooler with a few ice cubes.When I hit the water they go in my bag.One time I used a piece of red sweatshirt for the rag.The red die bled into the eels...
U learn something every day...

You do. Thanks for the tips NIB!, you have been most helpful.

NIB,

Do you keep the brine in the fridge? I'd THINK with all that salt it wouldn't be necessary.

Another question

I was going to buy my eels last night and hopefully rig them as described by Bryan in last week's fisherman. The guy at the B & T had an interesting suggestion. He said that I should create a brine solution and put the live eels in and let them drink up some of the brine. The Kosher salt will toughen up the insides and make the riggy last longer (assuming blue fish don't get at them).

Any thoughts on this.

Thanks again.

I have found freezing them does not hurt at all. I have used them , refrozen them , rethawed. I also once caught fish on them in November , refroze them and rethawed in may and caught fish on memorial day weekend on the excat same rigged eel i used in November.

I don't know why any salt is needed anywhere at any time as simply freezing them works great.

Oh , BTW , I often save a few at a time and accumulate about 20 in the freezer before rrigging. Rigging them is a pain so i like to do a lot while all slimed. i also find that freezing them first , then thawing in cold water , sloughs off the slime layer so it wipes right off as a whole layer and makes them easier to handle. It (removing slime) does not prevent fish from biting them as some have siad .

I only froze my eels once and when I took them out to fish they seemed stiff a lack of action really,so I just never froze them again,and I found keeping them in the fridge more convenient and easier to bring out to fish.:tooth:

Do you cook your pasta in the same solution too? :laugha:

while we're on the riggie subject, how do you guys carry them?

just throw them in a plug bag or carry a small cooler?

thanks.

Back,
You've never had Anguilla Angnolotti?
DZ

I just shove the bags with the frozen eels in them into my shoulder bag. Sometimes they are frozen when they hit the water. they thaw in about 10 seconds when in the water.

the stiffness might be do to not popping the vertebrae. i pop the cartiledge between the vertibrae.

I also do this.. I have a black pail.It keeps em dark.. I might put 2 inches of water in there with the eels. then add salt a little at a time til they die..U don't want to add to much it will kill em instantly.Thats is how I kill em most of the time when I am in a hurry for dead.If u go that route it is good to have a lid as they freak out big time when u hit em with a good amount of salt..

Just a pinch of salt with a little olive oil..
I actaully like eels..They have a great flavor and texture..
Nothing special just whipe the slime off em gut em an bake.Maybe a little crushed tomato ant a few basil leaves..
NIB is a man of the sea..