[Markj]

Bought a sandeel net off ebay last year.Took it to Ireland and tried it out in a estuary with a good run of water.We eventually got some eels but it was bloody hard work.Some how i don't think we were doing it right.It's a green mesh net with floats on the top and a weighted bottom line which i don't think is weighted enough as it kept on floating to the top in the current.Could anyone point me in the right direction on how to use one of these.

Thanks Mark.

 

[DINOBOY]

if you can wait till tomorrow i will write it up in detail for you

 

[Markj]

Yeah no probs,thankyou very much.i was thinking of adding more weight to the bottom? look forward to your advice.

Mark.

 

[fishyrob]

if you can wait till tomorrow i will write it up in detail for you

Nice one Dino, I also await your response. I have beaches that get quite a lot of mainly small sand eel. These beaches at low tide are shallow enough to walk a net out in chesties. Is this likely to be possible with a sandeel net? I keep putting off buying one because of my lack of knowledge on the subject. That and the £500 price tag.

Mark, How much did you pay for your one off e-bay, and what size is it?

 

[Markj]

Hi ,
My net is about 30ft long ,green mesh with floats on the top and it cost me about 60 quid off ebay last year.Think the trick is to weigh the bottom down with some chain so that it digs into the sand and flick the eels out. Thanks once again for the info.

Mark.

 

[DINOBOY]

ok to start with you dont want tide when shooting a sandeel net as the small meshes hold the water making it very heavy or near impossible to hold onto this is one reason it is pulled very slowly also you need it to disturb the eels enough to get them up from the sand and be hurded buy the wings of the net (the larger 22mm mesh sections each side of the bunt) which is usualy 5mm mesh.
as for shooting the net by wading this is very limited to what you will catch but ok with very small nets,your net will probably fish fine if you use it with no tide pull as this is what is lifting the foot rope clear of the bottom (bad thing)as you need it stiring up the bottom.will post more later,lee

 

[DINOBOY]

Hi ,
My net is about 30ft long ,green mesh with floats on the top and it cost me about 60 quid off ebay last year.Think the trick is to weigh the bottom down with some chain so that it digs into the sand and flick the eels out. Thanks once again for the info.

Mark.

this net is micky mouse (excuse the pun)

 

[fishyrob]

Hi ,
My net is about 30ft long ,green mesh with floats on the top and it cost me about 60 quid off ebay last year.Think the trick is to weigh the bottom down with some chain so that it digs into the sand and flick the eels out. Thanks once again for the info.

Mark.

Cheers guys. Looks like I have a new project!

 

[Markj]

Actually dinoboy it's not a bad net! I have actually had sandeel in it but it was just hard work.Was looking to see if there was a knack to it.

Mark.

 

[big guy]

do you need a licence to net sandeels anywhere in the uk?

i was planning to invest in a small sandeel trawl this year to use off my small boat for a small amount of eel. i gathered to do it commercialy you'll need a licence and have quotas but just a small amount i thought would be ok.

 

[DINOBOY]

Search the forums - this has been covered before.
Unless you know what you are doing - avoid trawls as you can get yourself in serious trouble quite easily. Towing a trawl can significantly alter a vessels stability charachteristics - especially if the net comes fast or fills with sand.

As for liciences - you need one if netting estuarys or river systems as i do. Contact the local environment agency office. In the open sea no licience is required but i'd suggest contacting your local sea fisheries office to check if there are any local byelaws forbidding seining etc etc.

SS

i agree 100% with ss on the trawl opinion i own a sandeel trawl so have first hand experience of them i have never had any trouble with mine but ALLWAYS have a knife to hand as if a problem does arise the rope will be cut ASAP..