trotlines(with hooks)

[fishy1]

any info appriciated. also, can i catch eels in the uk? when/where/how, also i have a nice 90ftnet, 3inch mesh, made it myself, what can/will/how can i catch in the sea?







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[procrabber]

where are you located? there are european eels (Anguilla anguilla), closely related to the american eel (Anguilla rostrata), but thanks to all of europe damming all the rivers, and horrific overfishing, the numbers are down to 1% of historical levels.  the american eel is doing well at about 50% of historical levels.  both species are catadromous (live in freshwater/ spawn in saltwater- saragosa sea) and are closely related to Tarpon of all fish (Elopiformies)
as far as fishing trot line (wth hooks) they are illegal in MD even for comercial fishing.  some states allow them though. in europe, i have no idea

[fishy1]

north-west scotland, near ullapool.

[procrabber]

i know they fish for eel using trotlines over there. sounds messy to me, and i would guess you would need a commercial license. we use eel pots here. they have cloth funnels, two on one side, with the middle one just a slit that lets only eel through. they catch eel well

[fishy1]

also, how do i salt fish?


would they make good bait.

[procrabber]

salting eel is different than other fish. salted eel catches crabs great, but is not good for eating. to salt eel, put a cup of salt on about 10-15 lbs of live eel. they will die and slime out A LOT. wash off the slime and salt. put them in a brine salty enough to float an egg. keep cool (lower than 65F) use as bait only
to salt other fish, cut off the head and guts, split them down the middle, put a layer of salt on the bottom of a plastic bowl, then a layer of fish, another layer of salt, etc. fill the bowl with salt brine.... as much salt as the water can hold. leave in the fridge for a week. then hang it in the sun for a few days.  

[fishy1]

would salted fish(not eel) catch crabs?

[procrabber]

try it and let me know. salt them whole so the blood and guts stay in them

[fishy1]

would u just use a bit of the fish?

or would u use a whole one?

if it wasn't gutted and u cut it wouldn't the guts fall out?

[procrabber]

what kind of trap are you using?  typically you use a whole fish cut in half. you want them to smell the guts. if you can, just freeze the fish and dont salt them

[fishy1]

a trotline, it's just with a whole mackerel it seems quite a waste.

[procrabber]

if you are using a trotline for crabbing, you dont want hooks on it!!! and you cant use mackrel no matter how you cut them. check out the crabbing methods section ofthis site and it will show you a crabbing trot line