Sandeels

[BAZACODBASHA]

Noticed a few posts about the lack of fish getting caught at the moment, and a lot of people seem to think sandeels are the problem. Well Iv'e just got back from fishing Lynemouth beach, and on my way there I bumped into a contractor working at the power station. He tod me there are THOUSANDS of sand eels getting sucked into the cooling water inlet at present.........so the theory could well be right. Incidentaly he also said there was a Turbot of about 20lbs sucked in as well !
Anyway the fishing was c**p on the beach. Caught one coalfish, and missed another half-hearted tug in 4 hours fishing over high tide. Few people coming off the beach same time as me..all fared just as poor.

[dicky mint]

Intresting re the sandeels baz, unlucky this arvo but tha's always next time just dropped you a PM by the way mate (might wanna have a re think on the venue tho unless we target big turbot LOL)
dicky

[shaun]

on a positive note, atleast they will be fatting up any idea when these sandeels will be gone?

[WolfyDave]

Very interesting that Baz...This may explain why we are not having any luck fishing off the beaches and rocks.If food is that plentiful it may be lean for a while.

[sless]

talking to a trawler man
he said all the cod they are getting in the nets are stuffed with sandeel

[smithy ov c.ham]

we just need a big stir up mate 2 bring the fish back in 2 feed

[rich666]

you could always go and target sandeels on light gear with 1oz lead and some mini daylights - would be good sport a 6 foot spinning rod, plus you can use them later on a bait if that's what the cod are stuffing themselves with they'd make ideal bait.

Or you could ask at lynemouth station if they'd let you have some as bait for fishing??

[Hartlepool codder]

sandeels are 100% the reason that the fish are out over... me mate worked his pots today he had a codling about 3lb it was like a football gutted it rammed with sandeels. was talking to the skipper of one of the angling boats and he had been out there 2day with 6 lads aboard they got 1 codling between them 2lbish and it had 24 sandeels in its gut . he said the gulls are out there going mad on the mass sandeel shoals. 1 of the little netting boats had 3 boxes out of 1 fleet..... the fish are aving it right off on all these sandeels and they are feeding up off the bottom. its easy food for them and aslong as the sandeels are there we have got no chance on the shore... i think if we get a settled period we for a week or so then get a massive northerly smash up then this could either disperse the sandeels or drive them in shore or off shore... its possibly the worst shore fishing this last week or 2 that i have seen for a long time , theres no dabs whities or nout, now as alot of yas will no even when the sea is flat ya still get the odd people on the piers fishing for bits n bobs whities flattys coalies etc and they normally get a few. its total barron at the minute. no body is getting out.

[kingcod deano]

looks like its the same all over the country

There is good news and bad news - World Sea Fishing Forums

[Paul(Hag)Hague]

sure this was similar last year(s), sea running for a few weeks, real cold weather yet no fish, yet those caught were rammed full of sandeels...
sure some of the oldee's (waco) would recognise a similar pattern from previous 100 years or so lol!

[Hartlepool codder]

sure this was similar last year(s), sea running for a few weeks, real cold weather yet no fish, yet those caught were rammed full of sandeels...
sure some of the oldee's (waco) would recognise a similar pattern from previous 100 years or so lol!

yeah mate your right, it happpened after christmas last year .. there was nout on the rods and we were caining the fish in the nets and they were chocker with sandeels.