I I were you Al , Id start shopping for big eels at River's Edge in Saybrook and stop at Weekapaug and Quaker Lane along the way til you find them. All these places usually have good eels. I find a lot of times you'll get a mixed bucket but if you tell them you want big ones , they will take the time to pick bigger ones. only way to get really good big ones all the time is to pick your own as John mentioned. Funny thing is some places will let you and other places not. even funnier is that some will let you pick your own Friday night but not again sat night. You never know!
Maybe its my imagination but I think we get bigger eels in CT and RI than they do down the Cape. Sometimes its hard to find the good ones so all the places along the way are worth checking since you can ice them down and they keep nicely. If you wait til you get down there , you run the risk of getting stuck with Cape Cod Shoe string eels.
For chunk bait , Mike T in Wareham usually has nice fresh bait. I think he has the best prices for equipment too for the B+T shops along your driving route. I think its a good practice to get while the gettings good though. You see a plug at river's edge and its $1.00 more than you think it may be down the road , sometimes its good to grab it cause the guy down the road may be out. You spend $40 on gas so what's the sense in possibly not getting the plug you want to save a buck.
Also a good bet is to stock up on the stuff you use a lot by internet ordering. Tim S and Mike T both have some good deals on the net if you plan ahead.
I used to get a lot at Murat's. that was the best RI shop for years. What they didn't have they would order for you. However , its now closed ...too bad!
I tend to stock up. i think nothing of buying 20 gibs Danny's when the assortment and price are right and then just using them for the next five years. we do the same when making our jigs. We make over 1000 then just feed off that pile for several years. certain stuff like Skin jigs are impossible to find when you want them. you have to stock up ahead of time or your out of Luck.
I find buying reels and rods is best done off season , like now or at the shows. In season , the bargains are harder to find.
Anyway , that's my story and I reserve the right to deny it all and change my mind at the drop of a hat.