Refreezing sandeel

[anylugnoitscrab]

I had a couple of packs of sandeel left over from yesterday and they had defrosted but i stuck them back in the freezer will they be ok to use again or should i chuck em

[Barrelreef]

I have found that once defrosted and refrozen they go like mash when trying to bait up with them!

Although if they don't totally defrost (still mostly hard) I have found them to be ok for refreezing and using again............just about!

[thorny]

all i do is open the packs lay them on dry news paper then role them up leaving a gap between each one do em in 5s 10s as you wish i find that next time i use them their just as good THORNY

[blankerman]

if they are too soft,you could always wrap them in squid and have a squid eel sausage:)

[big guy]

i've still got some in the car, that i forgot about last night. i'll re freeze, but mark them si i know which ones are dodgy.

i think creedy caught a 11lb thorny on re frozen sandeel last weekend, so can't be that bad.

[philtherod]

Use'em in the groundbait. Otherwise chuck'em. Buy an AMMO bait store for frozen sandeels, if you can get fresh, try salting some.Freeze using a two freezer system, as if you put anything at room or fridge temperature in a freezer with frozen sandeels in, the temporary increase in temperature will ruin what is already in the freezer. Freeze from fresh in the no.2 freezer, then transfer to the no.1 freezer, and this problem should not occur.

philtherod

[hui 5016]

all i do is open the packs lay them on dry news paper then role them up leaving a gap between each one do em in 5s 10s as you wish i find that next time i use them their just as good THORNY


nice one maytey,

il definately be doin this in the future, with the makro as well

[terryswindon]

Before re-freeze. Bait the up on a hook and line first. Cast when still frozen. They stay on better.

[codhead]

Use'em in the groundbait. Otherwise chuck'em. Buy an AMMO bait store for frozen sandeels, if you can get fresh, try salting some.Freeze using a two freezer system, as if you put anything at room or fridge temperature in a freezer with frozen sandeels in, the temporary increase in temperature will ruin what is already in the freezer. Freeze from fresh in the no.2 freezer, then transfer to the no.1 freezer, and this problem should not occur.

philtherod

Do you live in a cold store? :blink:

[Ruff Ground]

I have found that with quality frozen eels (like Ammo) then as long as they don't completely defrost they are usually ok to use again, although not quite as good.

Even if they are completely defrosted, as long as they haven't gone soft they are still worth keeping, if only to bait elastic onto baits to bulk em up. I keep all my 're-frozens' in a separate box, then take one extra packet of these 'just in case' on every trip. If I don't use them they get chucked away. Saves money in the long run!

[philtherod]

The advice I gave is based on the method that AMMO recommend, I use 2 freezers, and it works well. The advice to bin the refrozen defrosted sandeels comes from trying to cast them years ago in Ireland. The following week I managed to nail a jelly to the ceiling!!

philtherod

[Bass-ic Instinct]

You should never refreeze defrosted sandeels as they go mushy and the guts will split as you try to thread them on. I keep my sandeels in a vacuum flask and only remove them when i need them. Often the remaining in the flask will not have defrosted and be ok for use in the near future. Old sandeels can bee mashed up for groundbait though. Mixed with bran and boiled macky or crushed crabs into some shirvey it can be used for wrasse and pollock on rock marks or used with a swimfeeder for flatties, although i have found that doggies rather like the feeder often attacking it!

[John Mason]

If you want to refreeze sandeels, bag 'em and throw a handful of salt in the bag.

They go pretty leathery then and make excellent winter whiting baits.

Cheers - John

[4Fox Hake]

Use'em in the groundbait. Otherwise chuck'em. Buy an AMMO bait store for frozen sandeels, if you can get fresh, try salting some.Freeze using a two freezer system, as if you put anything at room or fridge temperature in a freezer with frozen sandeels in, the temporary increase in temperature will ruin what is already in the freezer. Freeze from fresh in the no.2 freezer, then transfer to the no.1 freezer, and this problem should not occur.

philtherod

Wow ... is this really a problem? Not that I doubt you, Phil, just never knew, and surprised that there'd be noticable difference in results.

If they're that rapidly temperature sensitive, doesn't it mean we're never going to get truly top-quality eels by post?

[philtherod]

Ammo baits are delivered through the U.K. (and Eire, as Malcolm Cannot resist a spot of bassing!!) in refrigerated trucks with the bait blast-frozen and packed in the works at -28 to-30 degrees in insulated containers, and the truck is run at a similar temperature. Ammo give advice on storage to potential retailers on the best way to store their products so it gets to the anglers in the best possible condition. I cannot see frozen bait by post matching the quality of this method of distribution of the bait. Bob Moss in Ballydavid has a fetish about his eels, his are the best you can get in his area at the end of the Dingle Peninsula. Ask your local dealer if he is as careful about looking after his frozen bait.

philtherod

[Bass-ic Instinct]

Point there. i have bought packs off eels before that havent been kept well. They have semi defrosted and when it has come to hooking they have burst there guts. Something to look out for.

[Billy No Baits]

I'm looking for a method of catching live sand eels if anyone has a few tips I would appreciate an insight into the various methods that people use up and down the country.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers
Billy

[solehunter]

I have salted them in the past! Damn good way of keeping them hard!