as i shell them i drop them onto a sheet of newspaper. once theres plenty on it i cover them with another sheet and leave them for half an hour.

this will soak up a lot of the excess water from them. bag them into small resealable bags. i put 20 or 30 in each. flatten them in the bag getting as much air out as possible before completely sealing the bag.

freeze them flat in the freezer. a metal plate will speed it up.

 

Yeah, that's pretty much all there is to it. There is the option of shelling the mussel, binding a few to the hook of your choice with elastic and then freezing them on the hook.

 

One of the best threads on the forum was about mussel. See here :

http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93069

 

Personally I avoid draining the mussels as I like them to keep as much scent as possible.

If freezing I wouldnt shell them. Simply pop them in a bag and freeze. They stay frozen longer once your on your way to your mark and come out of the shell alot easier. Plus this way you dont loose too much scent!

 

I buy live supermarket mussels, enough in a net for a session with squid.
I just put them straight in the freezer as they are.
On the day you go fishing, take them out of the freezer about two hours before you leave if the weather is very cold, leave them in a fairly warm place to de-frost a bit.
As they warm up, the begin to open, very handy.
Obviously in warmer weather take them out and go, they will begin to thaw by the time you get fishing.
I use a teaspoon to prise the opening shell right open, and scoop out the lovely fresh mussel.

 

I was just wondering what species do you catch on mussels because i have never used them

thanks mousey

 

I mainly shell them two days before a sesh and leave in the fridge.
If i'm freezing them ill put 4 or 5 on a baiting needle and bound with elastic then freeze.

 

I collect my own mussels and use them for coddling fishing , all we do is shell them and then bind them with fine elastic on to plastic straws from the £ shop in town then freeze them ,10 mussels per straw makes a large bait, we slide them off the straws right on to the hook when they start to defrost ,a bit more elastic , couple of turns on the pennel hook and you are good to go. We use them to bulk up crab baits and also add squid, they are cheap , easy to collect and the main thing is they work very well.