Live eels have an almost unfair reputation among striper hunters. Big bass eat them with total confidence, especially at night around structure, and the takedown of an eel by a good cow is one of the great thrills in striped bass fishing. The catch is that eels are slimy, tough to handle, and best fished after dark, which keeps a lot of anglers away from a genuinely elite big-fish method.
When & where
Eeling shines at night and in low light, around hard structure: boulder fields, rocky points, inlets, bridges and rips. Big bass move shallow after dark to hunt, and a slow-swimming eel in that zone is exactly what they're looking for.
Handling eels
Eels are slippery and strong. Keep them cold, which slows them down and makes them manageable: a bag or bucket with ice and a wet rag or seaweed. Grip a lively eel with a dry rag or a gripper, and keep them from tying your leader in knots by holding them behind the head.
Rigging & fishing
- Hook: an inline circle hook through the eel's lips or jaw (bottom to top). Circle hooks are required for bait in Massachusetts and hook fish cleanly in the corner of the mouth.
- Presentation: cast and let the eel swim on a slow retrieve or a natural drift, keeping just enough tension to feel it. Around rocks, work it slowly along the edges and through the down-current seams.
- The take: with a circle hook, do not swing. When you feel the weight, drop the rod tip briefly, then come tight steadily and let the circle do its job.
Tip Fish eels on a slightly heavier leader (30–50 lb fluorocarbon) than usual. You're often fishing rock and targeting the biggest fish in the neighborhood, so give yourself abrasion insurance.
Gear
Use a stout medium-heavy to heavy spinning setup with 30–50 lb braid, enough to control a big fish in rock at night. Release big females carefully, keeping them wet and reviving them fully.