Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

     

Left Nav S-B Home FAQ Members List S-B on Facebook Arcade WEAX Tides Buoys Calendar Today's Posts Right Nav

Left Container Right Container
 

Go Back   Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating » Main Forum » StriperTalk!

StriperTalk! All things Striper

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-06-2012, 11:23 AM   #1
Ryan560
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: CT
Posts: 448
Freezing eels?

Had a couple decent sized eels die in my jug yesterday, Wanted to freeze them so I can make them into riggies in a couple weeks. What's the best way to freeze them? Could I just throw them in a tupperware container filled with water and chuck them in the freezer? Sorry if this has been covered before, did a search and came up with nothing.
Ryan560 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 11:35 AM   #2
Rob Rockcrawler
Registered User
iTrader: (0)
 
Rob Rockcrawler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sturbridge MA
Posts: 3,127
I have froze them without without water and it worked ok. I bet freezing them in water would be better. When i rig them i try to do it before freezing them because it is easier for me. And after they are rigged i freeze them, they still looked pretty good the other day when i gave a couple of last years riggies to my neighbor.

Everything is better on the rocks.
Rob Rockcrawler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 11:41 AM   #3
piemma
Very Grumpy bay man
iTrader: (0)
 
piemma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 10,824
Blog Entries: 2
My old surf partner RI Rockhound, freezes his eels all season and rigs as he needs them. They work either way.

No boat, back in the suds.
piemma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 11:48 AM   #4
Ryan560
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: CT
Posts: 448
Thanks fellas, guess I'll throw them in water and freeze them
Ryan560 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 12:41 PM   #5
N.ShoreFisher
Annisquam Assassin
iTrader: (0)
 
N.ShoreFisher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Peabody, MA
Posts: 669
I've always heard that you should also cover them with water, table or Kosher salt, the later being better. I guess it creates a brine that helps to preserve and also keep them from getting freezer burn. I was also reading that you can store at room temp in the same brine.

Calling fishing a hobby is like calling brain surgery a job. ~Paul Schullery

There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process. ~Paul O'Neil, 1965
N.ShoreFisher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 12:44 PM   #6
PaulS
Registered User
iTrader: (0)
 
PaulS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,295
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Rockcrawler View Post
I have froze them without without water and it worked ok. I bet freezing them in water would be better. .
That is what I do. I do freeze the riggies in water and take a couple out that I'm going to use. Those I just throw into a plastic bag.
PaulS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 01:16 PM   #7
ivanputski
Pete K.
iTrader: (0)
 
ivanputski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,953
I usually rig dead eels, but I also use them the same exact way I use live eels... single hook in the head, no rigging...
ivanputski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 01:57 PM   #8
fcap60
Frank Capone
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Hamden, Connecticut
Posts: 2,229
Freezing fish in water "generally" preserves them better than air freezing. I've also wiped the slime off them, wrapped them in saran wrap, then put the individual eels in a ziplock bag.

Honestly, I don't think it matters much to the bass, but at the same time I think fresher is better.
fcap60 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 08:37 PM   #9
stripermaineiac
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Buxton, Maine
Posts: 1,727
Ryan try makin a brine an just soakin them in it but be carefull as to freezin an wrap them tight to prevent freezer burn. Plus freezin in a brine doesn't work as they rot in it in the freezer. Ron
stripermaineiac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 09:44 PM   #10
GattaFish
Great White Scup Hunter
iTrader: (0)
 
GattaFish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In the Corner...
Posts: 2,251
I fish dead eels all the time... Toss them in the freezer... If your going to use them in a day or two then just ziplock them and toss in fridge.... No salt or brine.... The stinkier the better...
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
GattaFish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2012, 11:08 PM   #11
FinS 32
Registered User
iTrader: (0)
 
FinS 32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Monmouth University, NJ
Posts: 188
i brine everything, skins, dead eels etc. with the exception of riggies which i just freeze in a ziplock bag dont want the brine "eating" my hooks

Century Rods USA Pro Staff Member
FinS 32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2012, 05:37 AM   #12
RIROCKHOUND
Also known as OAK
iTrader: (0)
 
RIROCKHOUND's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Westlery, RI
Posts: 10,408
Quote:
Originally Posted by piemma View Post
My old surf partner RI Rockhound, freezes his eels all season and rigs as he needs them. They work either way.
Ziplocs for short term...
Folgers plastic coffee fan for longer storage.... coil them up. fill with water and freeze the whole thing....

Bryan

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&
"For once I agree with Spence. UGH. I just hope I don't get the urge to go start buying armani suits to wear in my shop"
RIROCKHOUND is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2012, 06:43 AM   #13
Liv2Fish
Registered User
iTrader: (0)
 
Liv2Fish's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Chasing fat girls in the dark
Posts: 961
don't let the wife catch you, but the cryovac food save worked pissa. No freezer burn.
Liv2Fish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2012, 10:53 AM   #14
Saltheart
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Saltheart's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Cumberland,RI
Posts: 8,555
You can just freeze them in a ziplock , thaw in cold water to rig them , refreeze them , fish them , refreeze them. They are tough as hell.

One year I froze eels ever the winter , thawed and rigged them in the spring. Fished them all season long (you just tie on a frozen riggie and toss it in the ocean , it will thaw quickly). In November that year I fished one on one of my last days out and caught fish on it. I then took it , put it in a ziplock abd refroze it over the winter again! The following spring I caught a bass near Quonny on Memorial Day with it!

Saltheart
Custom Crafted Rods by Saltheart
Saltheart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2012, 03:57 PM   #15
Clogston29
xxx
iTrader: (0)
 
Clogston29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Playin' in the Dark
Posts: 2,407
zip lock works for me. two of my biggest bass on riggies (38.5 and 41 lbs) came on the same riggie almost a year apart. it sat in the freezer in a zip lock in between. second fish was hooked on the rear hook and did a number on it, otherwise it would have gone back in the freezer.

"Remember, my friend, that knowledge is stronger than memory, and we should not trust the weaker" - Van Helsing
Clogston29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2012, 05:39 PM   #16
chefchris401
Chris Blouin
iTrader: (4)
 
chefchris401's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Warren, RI
Posts: 3,330
Don't put em in a brine if you plan on making riggies with them, makes em to stif and rigid and they lose their action. Even if you crack the vertebra they still don't swim as nice.

I cover my riggies with water and freeze em.

Unrigged eels I freeze in two or 3 packs just remove the air.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
chefchris401 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:40 PM.


Powered by vBulletin. Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Please use all necessary and proper safety precautions. STAY SAFE Striper Talk Forums
Copyright 1998-20012 Striped-Bass.com