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Sandeel

One of the most effective bass baits available, presented live or fresh on a single hook on the flooding tide.

Sandeel is widely regarded as one of the premier bass baits available to the shore angler in Ireland and the UK. Where bass are feeding over sandy ground on a flooding tide, a live or fresh sandeel presented on a single hook can outperform every other bait.

Live Sandeel

Live sandeel is the gold standard. Sandeels can be caught using a fine-mesh drop net or sabiki rig in shallow sandy-bottomed bays, particularly in summer. Once caught, keep them alive in a bucket with an aerator or by refreshing the water regularly.

Hook a live sandeel through the lower jaw or through the back just ahead of the dorsal fin — either method keeps the fish alive and swimming naturally. Fish on a light running ledger with a long, fine fluorocarbon trace (0.35–0.40 mm, 3–4 metres) over sandy ground on the flooding tide. Allow the sandeel to swim freely and hold the rod, as takes can be fast and confident.

Fresh-Frozen Sandeel

Fresh-frozen sandeel (commercially available from most tackle shops) is a very good alternative and accounts for plenty of bass through the season. Rig it as you would a live eel — through the lower jaw — and fish it on a long flowing trace or a simple single-hook running ledger. The fresher the sandeel the better; avoid using soft or discoloured bait.

Rigging for Flatfish

Sandeel is also highly effective for flatfish. A sandeel section (head or tail) on a flowing trace just above the lead, fished in a sandy estuary or bay, will take flounder, dab, and plaice. Hook through the head section and present it flat along the bottom.

Other Species

Beyond bass and flatfish, sandeel attracts:

• Pollock and coalfish — especially when fished on a long trace or drifted through tidal currents
• Garfish and mackerel — when fished near the surface in summer
• Sea trout — in estuaries on a long flowing trace at night

Availability

Live sandeels require effort to collect on the day but are worth it when bass are present and actively feeding. Frozen sandeel is widely stocked in Irish tackle shops from spring through autumn. Some coastal fish merchants also sell fresh-frozen sandeel by weight.

Sandeel fishing is at its best from May through September when bass are actively feeding in the shallows. Spring tides that push sandbanks and drive sandeels up into the surf are the most productive conditions.