live lining eels at the pilings (bay bridge).

[gillplate]

The plan I had in my head this morning was to do the usual. Paddle out of SPSP. and use fishbites on a bottom rig to procure a spot or two for live lining. As I made the 90 mile journey From H.Q. (Fairfield,PA.), I had a moment of mental flatulence. I know anglers has eels. I'll just buy a few eels and live line them were I normally do well with spot. If you've never fished with eels out of a kayak before, let me prepare you. A eel is perhaps the slimiest aquatic creature on the planet.
You cannot possibly pick a 10 inch eel up in a bare hand and hold it long enough to dig a hook into him. the only way to pick him up is with wet rag. I started out with 4 eels and all the confidence in the world. I think all four made it into the cockpit of the kayak at least once before I got them hooked. One found a scupper hole and escaped, one snaked right up over the gunnel, the other two I managed to hook and after dropping on maybe a dozen pilings both were shredded by blue fish(that stopped biting short of the hook). Back home with my tail between my legs. A learning experience for sure. Shoulda stuck with plan "A".
Has anyone ever caught a bluefish right on a piling? It seems to me the blues always bite after I've drifted some distance from the pilings into open water.

[JohnE]

I usually keep them in a mesh laundry bag. Makes them much easier to deal with. Just work one to the top, grab it with the bag to hold while hooking it on.

[gillplate]

sounds like a good idea. I had them in a flow troll, and used a rag to grab them. I wish I had a gopro.I thought sure I was gonna wind up with a eel up the leg of my shorts!
thanks.

[Cowpokey]

Those slimy, slippery rascals can stay away from my hook(s), I'll stick with spot or perch for live lining.

[gillplate]

amen brother.

[sparky1423]

I was using live eels today for Flathead Catfish...few slimy soldiers almost made it to victory lane!

[gillplate]

they darn near violated me!

[Goody]

OK. Mental note to myself, "never use eel in kayak, stick to spots and perch for live lining". Don't care to handle those slimy buggers in a yak.

Mobile

[JohnE]

Yeah, they are pretty nasty. I usually only use them when it gets cold and most of the baitfish are disappearing. When the air temps are low, they do fine in the mesh bag for a long time and I either just dip them in the water to refresh occasionally or drag the bag in the water. If using a rag to handle them, they are way easier to deal with if you keep them on ice. Just make sure they are not in direct contact with the melting water and they are not drowning in their own slime.

[DownTIme]

Keep them on ice. Keeps them live and calm. Use dry rag or paper towel when handling.
Once in the water, they get plenty lively.

[gillplate]

thanks for all the input I'll keep it in mind the next time I try eels.

[gillplate]

Keep them on ice. Keeps them live and calm. Use dry rag or paper towel when handling.
Once in the water, they get plenty lively.

I just watched the video on your website. thats what its all about teaching the young,ins how to fish. The level of excitement a youngster gets out of a first fish is as cool as it gets. I Have a lot of respect for charter boat captains and try to soak up all I can from you guys. Nothing beats experience. If you ever see a"74 Bertram 35 called Wildcat out there, Theres a good chance I"m on there riggin or cuttin bait. Its a friends boat and were learning.I learned a while back that a kayak is alot cheaper! But I love that boat, and you cant beat a boat when the weather turns. Thanks

[missedshed]

We use dead eels in OBX when drifting along the pilings. Works just as well as live eels but that current really is moving when we use them. You arnt the first to learn about a rag needed with them also. We had one evening at Oregon Inlet where our eels kept getting bit off, we added a trailer hook (circle hook tied off to first hook) to the back of the eels. We than started to land Blues running around 25 inch. No stripers that night though

[gillplate]

I fished the little cut just on the northwest side of oregon Inlet fishing center two years ago. the maiden voyage on my tetra. caught some decent slot reds on gulp swimming mullet. I love the outerbanks!