[fishologist II]

I'm 52.I grew up in Jamaica Bay.Up until the 1980's,we caught eels all of the time.We would get them by hook and line,or hit the flats at night and spear them.Some nights,we could get over 100.Now I don't see 6 a year.
What happened?
Pete

 

[Fishmeister]

Me thinks you need to ask that question to the bass and commerants!!!

 

[Hunt n' Fish]

Fishologist,

I don't know about "The Bay" but they are still around here in the Great South Bay and its rivers. A friend catches them all the time in the summer by his boat in Patchogue and I used to give a kid a few bucks for catching me some in Rattlesnake Creek at night on hook and line. Also, in the winter, when I'd pole my duck boat up the Carmans river in the dark early morning, I would see hundreds of them laying on the river bottom.

They are around but allegedly not as plentiful. The DEC uses fykes to catch them in the spring during their migration and monitor them. I know that one guy in particular over there is very concerned about their numbers and is starting express concerns about all the eels used for bait. Watch out boys. I'm glad I use lures.

 

[616787]

Iv'e noticed the decline the last few years in the end of Gerritsen Creek. I crab in the summertime by Ave. U, and 5 years ago you could spear a dozen. The last 2 years, there were none.

 

[sam843]

They grew up and left Brooklyn

You need a big gigging spear now.LoL

 

[sam843]

Plum Beach flats

 

[sam843]

jokes a side the old timers told stories of spearing
tons of eels through the ice
at the Plum Beach Mud Flats.
I think the Jap. market for elvers put a dent on our eel population

 

[186logic]

Is there anything they won't eat? I'm also curious how they catch the elvers?

 

[619058]

check the creeks!

every spring when i fish for flounders in gerritsen creek i always catch em just before sunset.if you stay after dark looking to c&r the first bass of the year its almost guaranteed that you'll catch plenty of eels! worms are the best bet but they are usually too big for them early season strippers!

 

[MakoMatt]

I can remember jacking eels in the bays of Massapequa area as a kid and filling a garbage can full on just one tide. We sold them 3 for buck back then. Plenty of real bigs ones too. Also had Fluke and other fish as by-catch.

MakoMatt

 

[bobbym]

eels

I dont know where they have gone but a couple of weeks ago shoprite was selling them for 9 bucks a pound.I was shocked they were even for sale never mind at that price

 

[Makomagic]

Snakes

My father and I keep our boat near Patchogue River. It's funny, back at the dock after going weakfishing, I still had about a 1/2doz sands left. I then put a sand down on the bottom and put the rod in the rod holder. While I was scrubbing down the boat, I turn to see my rod tip bouncing. Low and behold, there was a 3ft eel at the other end of the line, and it was taking drag...lol. Man, this thing had girth, the kind that people smoke. I threw it back, and used up the rest of the sands on these giant eels. It was fast and furious, not stop action...lol. This was in August, last year.

Makomagic jr

 

[fishologist II]

Spearing eels

Spearing eels was my Father's favorite sport.Between Dad and Grandpa,I learned it when I was around 8.Back in the 50's,we could spear them during the day,but in a matter of a few years ,it turned into an after dark only affair.The family had a bungalow in Spring Creek,and there we had a smoke house.My father always said that with less than 75 eels,it wasn't worth smoking.He liked to do 100-150 ay a time.Between the cleaning and the brining,it was a 2-3 day project.
Boy,I miss the taste of smoked eels.
Thanks for all of the replies,folks.
Pete

 

[bhm25]

demise

yes there has been a decline in the amount of eels in jamaica bay but they still do live there in great numbers. last year we set a string of pots to get bait for the fall and 2 sets had enough bait for 4 boats all season just keeping the "right sized" ones. i have heard stories from a old friend who recently died. about spearing them by the truck load over the "sluice" ......way before my time..lol

 

[STRIKERTHREE]

i remember when i was around 13 years old my mother dropped me and 2 friends off at the marina to snapper fish so while sitting on the back of my old mans boat fishing for snappers i had my rod in the holder and then all of a sudden the bobber went way down and the drag was being pulled like crazy finnally i got it up and it turned out to be a 4 1/2 ft eel that was about as wide as a budweiser can talk about having the **** scared out of ya it was 1 of the funnier moments of my fishing life

(This post edited by doughboy on 02/18/2003)

 

[cat14361]

EELS

i don't know where the eels are but can some one give me the phone # for FREEPORT FISH DOCK....i think there one block away from sea isle on wood craft.. thanks alot..

HELP ---HELP----HELP!