Like it! But a stone is a lot of fish to eat fresh though isn't it?

I froze a lot of mine, I think that was probably a mistake as apparently they aren't too good after being frozen. Plus - are you gutting each one before you cook/freeze them - and how many mouths are you feeding? I could easily eat half a kilo at a time, but just wonder how you are manging to gut them all - and store them all before they go off! I'm intrgued, because I would love to do something similar, except, its maybe easy catching them, but hard work preparing them in those numbers!!!

Gut them?? Thats half the flavour gone.........

 

Just had a look by the swimming pool but nothing! Do they only show at high tide and I'm guessing it needs to be throwing in a few waves?

 

if your going to hyth I would say about 1am would be best.

 

bass! in Jan?

 

is it worth going down to hythe about 7pm tonight?

 

keep a carp rod ready with float,6lb line and size 6 hook.hook one on the back just under the skin and you'll find out...theres bass hunting them.loads.

 

Maybe silly question but would they take tiny feathers?

 

I took the kids to Hyth thisevening, we got there an hour earlyer than last night, that meant that it was two hours earlyer in the tide. we only caught ten sprats. to be honist that wasnt a bad thing as I now have one section of our freezer fall of sprats from last night. Pike baits and chum for next years bass me thinks.

 

Interesting thread. I have been `toying` with the idea of purchasing a cast net, for bait or food collection. It looks fairly straightforward, once the technique has been mastered, and it can be VERY productive!
The sprats are in, even throwing themselves on the beaches at the moment, so has anyone tried a cast net? Also, can a recommendation be made of 1) the size for a beginner, and 2) what make and construction is best.
Could be great for the sprats, and even the mackerel on a summer evening. Have a look at this video, it certainly got me thinking a bit more seriously about having a go !
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSFy129HTzU&feature=related

I got one. I will try and remember to bring it to the dab match to play with.......

 

Interesting thread. I have been `toying` with the idea of purchasing a cast net, for bait or food collection. It looks fairly straightforward, once the technique has been mastered, and it can be VERY productive!
The sprats are in, even throwing themselves on the beaches at the moment, so has anyone tried a cast net? Also, can a recommendation be made of 1) the size for a beginner, and 2) what make and construction is best.
Could be great for the sprats, and even the mackerel on a summer evening. Have a look at this video, it certainly got me thinking a bit more seriously about having a go !
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSFy129HTzU&feature=related

Old man (youre not old youre 37) cast nets are brilliant. Bought one in Florida years ago and take it back with me every year.

 

Well in the end I partially defrosted some from the other night just as a test and snipped off the belly and head in one action of the kitchen scissors and didn't even need to gut them as I snipped slightly above the gut-line (might be a bit of a waste, but when you have so many, it just doesn't really matter in a way), and then cooked as per normal. Tasted fine. Not sure how long they could be frozen for and still come out like this, so as always, best to eat fresh I suppose.

I would never eat sprats ungutted. Whitebait, fine, but sprats no way, just doesn't seem right. I normally eat the heads and tails when fresh though - they're the best bits - nice and crispy!

 

Like it! But a stone is a lot of fish to eat fresh though isn't it?

I froze a lot of mine, I think that was probably a mistake as apparently they aren't too good after being frozen. Plus - are you gutting each one before you cook/freeze them - and how many mouths are you feeding? I could easily eat half a kilo at a time, but just wonder how you are manging to gut them all - and store them all before they go off! I'm intrgued, because I would love to do something similar, except, its maybe easy catching them, but hard work preparing them in those numbers!!!

There eaten similar to white bait, whole guts an all, although being that a sprat is a bit bigger you will probably want to head and tail them first.

 

Ah, I see...fair-dos. You'll have pike bait for years now then! I'm seriously thinking of taking my shrimp net out tonight - roughly how far did you have to 'cast'? Do you think my 6 foot handle is going to be any use?

 

No I dont gut each one,lol. I do however freaze them in sandwich bags, good pike bait. Also good mushed up with bread as a chervey for mullet n bass.

 

Like it! But a stone is a lot of fish to eat fresh though isn't it?

I froze a lot of mine, I think that was probably a mistake as apparently they aren't too good after being frozen. Plus - are you gutting each one before you cook/freeze them - and how many mouths are you feeding? I could easily eat half a kilo at a time, but just wonder how you are manging to gut them all - and store them all before they go off! I'm intrgued, because I would love to do something similar, except, its maybe easy catching them, but hard work preparing them in those numbers!!!

 

After this post I had to check it out!
So armed with a converted keep net I set of to Hyth. There was a few sprats flipping about on the beach I picked up 20 or so befor trying my net. 1st throw I only caught two, so I cable tyed a 4lb hammer to the cod end, Bingo! about two hundred fish. I got almost a stone in about five throws. Going back tomurrow with the kids. Just pollished off a lovely plate of sprats! Jamie Oliver eat your heart out!

 

I've just had another portion for a late supper with dab as the main. I'm in heaven right now!

 

It happend one night when I was fishing at Normans Bay, so called the wife and she came over and filled two carrier bags full of them.
Fried Sprat suppers that week.

 

i used to have one in australia. very good for collecting live bait but unfortunately i had to let go of mine due to a croc grabbing hold of it. was **** to learn it though but once mastered would prove invaluable.

 

If any of you are heading down this way for the squid in April/May, then do individually wrap and freeze some of those sprats. They make great "jig jackets" and seems to increase the capture of cuttles, as well as squid.

Got a few boxes today mate if you need any,£25 a box(30 kilos),lovely fish approx. 50 to the kilo.

 

Interesting thread. I have been `toying` with the idea of purchasing a cast net, for bait or food collection. It looks fairly straightforward, once the technique has been mastered, and it can be VERY productive!
The sprats are in, even throwing themselves on the beaches at the moment, so has anyone tried a cast net? Also, can a recommendation be made of 1) the size for a beginner, and 2) what make and construction is best.
Could be great for the sprats, and even the mackerel on a summer evening. Have a look at this video, it certainly got me thinking a bit more seriously about having a go !
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSFy129HTzU&feature=related

 

thanks all.... more questions..... do they come in this close only at night ?...... would a landing net help or not necessary ?..... Squidy, is that Sandown as in the North end of Deal ? Cheers, Mike.

Yup, thats the place Mike, had a comp there, n they were washing ashore

 

I was down dungeness tuesday and at around low tide you could see them jumping just over the first wave anywhere up to 15ft from the shore, a cast net would of sin you bag loads although they was getting washed up on the beach but not to often as the waves were not big.

 

thanks all.... more questions..... do they come in this close only at night ?...... would a landing net help or not necessary ?..... Squidy, is that Sandown as in the North end of Deal ? Cheers, Mike.

 

If any of you are heading down this way for the squid in April/May, then do individually wrap and freeze some of those sprats. They make great "jig jackets" and seems to increase the capture of cuttles, as well as squid.