sandeel under a float

[cod head]

Ive caught mackerel with sandeel under a float before but mainly use other baits for my float fishing. just out of curiosity whats the best way to bait up a sandeel with a float set up because when i think about it wont the sandeel be upside down and not sitting a natural way in the water which may lead to missed bites?

[codfather145]

Rig it with the head at the top and tail the bottom that's we're your hook should be about 1 inch from the end of the tail.
You will get pollock , mackie ,coalies and what ever is kicking about.
It's not that it doesn't look natural it's the movement and the colour that attracts the fish to bite.
Don't use sandeels to big .
I find ones about 3-4inchs long are spot on.
The silver side of mackie works just as good and lasts longer.

[g-force]

I use sandeel all the time for mackerel fishing - I simply thread the hook through the mouth and bring the point out through the belly (I use a reasonably long shank hook). Then a few licks of bait elastic around the head to hold it on...many times I'll get 4 or 5 fish on the same eel before it's torn to shreds - other times it can be torn off in one go!

I fish it on about a 3ft flourocarbon trace about 12lb, below the weight - you've got to remember that with a bit of tide it'll not be hanging down straight but more likely swept out at about 90 degrees; so when I'm setting the depth for my float I measure from the stop-knot to the ball-weight, not the hook.

Gary

[sammy talbot]

I just use a sharp fine wire hook ( Aberdeen) and hook it straight through the hard part of the gill plates . Keeps them flowing more natural . It helps if you keep them in a cooler pack and when I can get away with it I flick it out under arm to keep pressure of the bait