Sand eels - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

macojoe · 06-17-2003, 02:55 PM

A buddy and I went to Crows pasture in Dennis this morning trying to get some sand eels. But there were none to be had?? Last year at this time they were all over the place? Well we had a nice morning and a great walk out!! I meet a guy out there fishing and he said he saw some fish pass him by and there were tons of little needle sand eels all over (which I found) but they were so tiny. This guy had said that he had heard someone got a 38# out there, but all he got was one 24" today.
Might go try the Pamet for some eels next week some time.

Jimbo · 06-17-2003, 03:43 PM

Know the spot well. Always peaceful over there. As far as sand eeling, is that a seining type operation. How do you gather them in bulk.

capesams · 06-17-2003, 04:50 PM

with a sandeel rake, most local t. shops here carry them, but there not cheep anymore, 40-50 $$. red top has them if your headed this way from off cape. best thing to use is a fish tote without holes so it's floats , tie a rope to it and yourself, and drag it behind you as you r raking,, as you rake an spear them turn around an dump them in the tote, I always bring a nylon mesh bag as well to dump the eels in after I'm done rakeing, then wash them off in the water to get rid of sand, shells an all the blood, after that they go right into a small cooler with ice to keep them fresh, cause they'll turn to schitt in no time if you don't. after I get home I'd lay them all out an dry them off, putting only a handfull in a plastic bag. ....heat an water will ruin a good bag of fishin eels.

mj....that place only has good eels two times a year[big] an thats when they come in to dump thier eggs, what your getting now are the kids.

macojoe · 06-17-2003, 04:56 PM

Cape that is the way I do it tote and all. But I thought I got them about this time last year? Might have been earlier? What time of the year is good to go there for them? I started to do this last year and must have gotten lucky on the timming.

capesams · 06-17-2003, 06:30 PM

last month an should be some good raking coming up in july, take a walk back into the creek when it gets hotter, there's a deep hole in there that was good at times . also at dead low go out as far as you can,say waist deep an look for patches of weed growing on the bottom, they love to hide under it. been raking there waist deep in had the bass swimming around me like dogs picking up the scraps. best time for rakeing is just before sun up. sometimes the deer will be running around the flats as well.

macojoe · 06-17-2003, 06:54 PM

Thanks Cape!! I will be there in July. Itwas beatiful there this morning! I should have brought the camera. But did not want it to get wet, it is brand new. And I just love dropping stuff in the water. Just ask the cell phone co. they have sold me 5 phones in the last two years

capesams · 06-17-2003, 07:03 PM

zip-lock bag.

Raven · 06-17-2003, 07:03 PM

i can hear mine fine thru a zip lock bag when it rings that is...
one day i had caught a trout and dropped my phone at the same time just as the trout got off my hook.....so i said: what should i grab first? the phone or the trout...well i grabbed the trout first.
then i took the darned phone and stuck it in a sweatshirt sleave tied in a knot and swung it round and round like a centrifuge.
i then placed it on my dash in the sun and on the heater at home
and it worked fine and the trout tasted even better....lol

Raven · 06-17-2003, 07:05 PM

touche' engard heh heh

nor-easter · 06-17-2003, 07:18 PM

For $3.00 or less per month you can get "insurance" on your phone. If it slips out of your pocket no sweat.

l.i.fish.in.vt · 06-17-2003, 08:24 PM

no sand eels at the pamet, heard the whales eat them all. hopefully i will be there this weekend to find out for my self. i cut the rim off a 5 gallon bucket and attached a laundry bag to it with some mono. made a strap to go around my shoulder, works good for me.

macojoe · 06-17-2003, 08:51 PM

nor easter I checked into that they make you pay a $25 deductable and then you can only use 2 time.

Joe · 06-17-2003, 09:02 PM

Sand Eels are more abundant after the prevailing winds have shifted into the southwest. At the latest, this should happen by either last week of June or the first week of July.
The fact that the wind has been primarily out of the east this spring is a logical explanation as to why we have not seen them in good numbers so far. Rest assured, they will appear. Sand eels have bounced back from their historical lows and they have been in pretty solid the last two seasons.
There are two species of sand eel – one is a larger, offshore specie that is a major food source of whales and the other is an inshore variety that the Cape sees a lot of. Both species are approx the same size and distinguishing between the two is difficult. Whales don't chow on the same sand eels that you rake.