| bait alive is a challenge in itself. If trying to catch a | | | | cultures which you can buy live from all good |
| fish is enough you got to keep your bait alive and | | | | marine aquatic shops. If not Mysis is very good |
| in tip top condition too! There are ways to help | | | | too! Any eels that do die freeze down in packs |
| keep you bait alive. I will go through the basics of | | | | and use when you wish do not allow dead |
| some of the most popular baits used and how | | | | Sandeels to float around your tank as this will kill |
| you can keep it alive with the minimum of | | | | off the live ones. |
| casualty's and fuss. | | | | Peeler Crab |
| Sandeels | | | | You can keep peelers for long periods of time by |
| Live Sandeel is probably the deadliest bait known | | | | using the same method above. However most of |
| to sea angling in British waters, presented as a | | | | us will place the peeler crabs in an Ice Cream tub |
| freelined bait, fished under a float or legered on a | | | | and cover with seaweed and place into the fridge |
| long leader, they will catch just about all of our | | | | until ready to use. A great way of storing them |
| major sporting species including Bass. There are | | | | when fishing is to place them into a bait cool bag |
| two factors in keeping sand eel alive for any | | | | damp! this will keep them out of the sun and |
| period of time. One is oxygenation and two is | | | | elements until ready to use. Anyfish Anywhere |
| Temperature. Sandeels sitting in stagnant water all | | | | Bait bag is a good recommended sized bag for |
| day is doomed and is not going to last you more | | | | the job. If you need to bring your crabs on |
| than 1 hour. You need to provide fresh supply's of | | | | further into the peeling stage bring them out of |
| oxygen via a bait air pump and a suitable | | | | the fridge and allow them to warm up to room |
| container to keep them out of the sun. Water in | | | | temperature and place them in a 1.5cm of water |
| small quantities left in the summer heat can | | | | in a tray to allow them to drink. |
| quickly rise cooking you Sandeels. A good solution | | | | Prawns |
| to this is a bait bucket, I highly recommend the | | | | Most of us collect live prawns when fishing for |
| Salt Bucket by Shakespeare not only it comes | | | | rays. Prawns can be difficult to keep for any long |
| with a built in pouch for your pump but it also has | | | | length of time. Using a Salt Bucket again is the |
| a zip up lid to stop your eels jumping out and to | | | | way to keep them. On a hot day they would last |
| keep the sun exposure from heating your water. | | | | an hour or two with ice packs placed inside the |
| If that's not all, you are also able to collapse it and | | | | bucket. If you have an air pump in there aswell |
| wash it out with ease. | | | | they will last a full day. The key is to keep |
| If you want to store Sandeels for any long period | | | | changing the water every 2 hours and keep cool |
| of time, you need to set up a tank at home | | | | as the water clouds with their own "bodily |
| which you have had cycling for at least 4 weeks. | | | | functions" and this can kill them very quickly. |
| Cycling meaning allowing the tank to go through | | | | Ragworm/Lugworm |
| the nitrogen cycle. When there are no traces of | | | | Favourite amongst anglers! Best kept in a tray |
| Ammonia left by using a saltwater test kit at | | | | with 1/4" of seawater. Place in a bait fridge. If |
| your local aquatic center it is then safe to | | | | they are healthy they will wriggle like mad when |
| introduce you eels. This cycling process is exactly | | | | put in the water. Need to change the water |
| the same as if you where setting up tropical or | | | | every day or two with fresh collected saltwater. |
| marine fish tank. | | | | For just a few days dampen some newspaper |
| Fitted to your tank you will need a filter pump | | | | with collected saltwater and wrap up the worms |
| that can circulate you tanks volume by at least 4 | | | | in 5's or 10's and keep in the fridge until ready to |
| times an hour as a rule and some suitable | | | | use. Another good way is to get some |
| saltwater rocks for the bacteria to colonise. Also | | | | Vermiculite you can get a bag load of it from a |
| you will need an air pump connected to an air | | | | local garden centre. Put the worms in a sealed |
| stone running 24/7 this is beneficial to your | | | | Rag and Lug Tub with air holes and a small handful |
| Sandeels and the bacteria in your setup. | | | | of Vermiculite. Spray the worms with saltwater |
| Remember to change 25% of your sea water | | | | just to keep damp not soaking and place in the |
| every 2 weeks, this stops the build up of Nitrates | | | | fridge. It is important to remove any dead worms |
| which will kill your Sandeels. | | | | if any daily as this will kill all of your worms due to |
| A good food for your Sandeels is Live Plankton | | | | toxins leaching out from the decomposing worm. |