Sandeel Barmouth

[sunny]

I fish around Barmouth/Fairbourne quite a bit and everyone seems to say that the best bait for bass is live sandeel.
So does anyone know where I can buy live sandeel up here or down there or even better know how to go about catching them on the beach?
Would a push net work at low tide or some sabiki's maybe?

[Steve Duffy]

Sandeel very difficult to keep alive without an aerator.Also difficult to keep them alive and on the hook during casting.More suited for use off a boat.There is a good chance you will get some in a push net if they are about.

[sunny]

Thanks Steve if I can find a supply will buy an aerator. A lot of people use them off the bridge in Barmouth so not much different to fishing off a boat I guess. Think I'll try and build a push net .

[wxm]

Sunny,i have been fishing in barmouth area for a couple of months with my brother in law who has fished the same spot for the past 7 years.

He has made several friends with other regular fishermen at this spot,and most have been baffled at first as to why they are not getting any bass,yet he is getting several,and he swears by his choice of bait,and when these guys change from frozen lug to rag,they have caught too.I tried frozen lug myself 1 night,and blanked.

On my first visit,i caught my first ever bass,and have caught every time since.

The most have been caught using ragworm,but once or twice we have used frozen sandeel and have caught with that too.I find cutting 1 in half improves the catch rate.

On the way into barmouth on a Friday afternoon,i get my rag from the shop on the left (opposite side from Viking shop) but on a Saturday I go into porthmadog and get it from there,and there is a massive difference in quality,and catch rate.

Have you ever fished in front of the cemetery on the road out of barmouth towards talybont,fantastic fishing with bass over 6lb landed,and 4lb on a regular basis.

I hope to be back up that way next week

Wouldn't it be good to be able to get just a few like this

https://youtu.be/NpLAot2b9_8?list=WL

[wxm]

Just found this old post from svenbren





PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2009 7:41 pm Post subject:


cast a sandeel out at speed and any distance its dead/ or fell off the hook. drop it down off a wall pier slowly that would be fine.

the art of fishing live sandeel is
1/keeping it alive.
2/hooking it right so it stays alive (just at the back of its head )
3/hooking it in the head will stop it burying itself in the sand.

now here is your tackle needs
1/ light 11ft+rod
2/fixed/spool/light reel loaded with 20+line straight through (no shockleader you only going to cast no further than the surf around 50yrds)
3/6ft+good sturdy tripod
4/3/0 fine wire hooks (your choice what you use i use the lightest strongest i can get )
5/three way swivel
6/1 medium size key ring
7/1 gemini clip
8/2/3oz gripper lead (depends on your rod abilty)
9/1/2oz bomb/ball lead (i prefer the ball)
10/6lb/12lb mono (for your hook lenths)
11/good airated bucket of live sandeels.
12/rubber band

now here is what you do .

1/set up tripod so the rod sits vertical as much as possible
2/thread line through rings of rod
3/tie on the gemini clip
4/clip on 2/3oz gripper lead (cast out to were you want to fish)
5/clip the top of the three way swivel to medium sized key ring
6/ tie 3ft+hook lenth to the side swivel of the three way (i use 6ft hook lenths of 12lb line for fairly rough ground/less if its just sand)
7/tie hook on to hook lenth
8/loop the rubber band through the eye/hole of the 1/2oz ball(this is to keep your eel down to the sea bed .)
9/loop the ball/band through the eye of the bottom of the three way swivel (i use rubber band if you get a fish on and tangles round the ball weight it will cut through it )
10/lower your rod so you can clip on the key ring having your main line threaded through the centre .
11/put on your live sandeel
12/ lift your rod high so the key ring/bait slides down your line into the sea at a steady pace it will slowly sink to the gripper lead which you have already casted out keeping your rod high on your tripod and line taught sit back and wait .
you can get instant hits even when the eel is still sliding down the taught line

now i need a rest my fingers are numb.

[sunny]

Thanks wxm I know the area you mean and I'll give it a try when I'm over there in a couple of weeks Can you fish it at low or is it just a high water mark?
Guess it suffers from the weed problems you often get when fishing around that coast?
I normally fish lug and do catch but I'll pick up some rag and give that a try.
I normally fish the bridge, the point at Fairbourne, Friog cliffs and sometimes go down to Twywn but not had a bass this year. I'm a bit cr?p at fishing really
Interesting article on sandeels would never have thought of fishing them like that but it should work...... if I ever get any

[wxm]

Thanks wxm I know the area you mean and I'll give it a try when I'm over there in a couple of weeks Can you fish it at low or is it just a high water mark?
Guess it suffers from the weed problems you often get when fishing around that coast?
I normally fish lug and do catch but I'll pick up some rag and give that a try.
I normally fish the bridge, the point at Fairbourne, Friog cliffs and sometimes go down to Twywn but not had a bass this year. I'm a bit cr?p at fishing really
Interesting article on sandeels would never have thought of fishing them like that but it should work...... if I ever get any

It fishes very well at low mate.I usually fish it it upto high then 1 hour down.

Im not that experienced myself,but after getting my 1st ever bass here a couple of months ago,i cannot go often enough.

If you cant get live sand eel,give a pack of frozen a try on 1 rod and worm on the other,nothing ventured nothing gained as they say

[sunny]

Yep ragworm and frozen sandeel next time I down there

[wxm]

Yep ragworm and frozen sandeel next time I down there

I have sent you a message mate,let me know if you get it

The tackle shop get the fresh lug on a Thursday usually,but on the rare occasion it is a Friday morning.

You can phone to check 01341 280480