keeping sand eels on the hook

[ProfessorM]

I rake my own sand eels. It is the only way to go. Frozen from the bait shops are left over fresh ones they couldn't sell and decided to freeze after a week. Just throwing money away. The ones I rake that I do not use are taken home and dried off in newspaper and then frozen asap in small bags for future fishing. Of course you must put them on ice as soon as you rake them. I have just used this past weekend sand eels that I froze last July and had not a one fall off the hook or mushy. They were in great condition belive it or not. Usually use them up by the end of the year. The key is put them on ice, dry completely and freeze asap. Bait shops don't spend the time and who knows how long they have had them. As far as hooking them on the hook I go with putting the hook thru the two eyes they stay on the hook great. Sand eels are the best bait for Fluke there is on the Bay side. Stripers won't turn their noses up at them either. Good raking. Mr. M.