[jimrup85]

So I'm hoping there are some striper fishing experts who can answer a question for me about how to hook eels when fishing for striper. I've been told to hook them both ways...by the tail or up under the jaw and out an eye socket and that it doesn't matter. I have now caught fish both ways, however, I'm now concerned about hooking eels through the tail. Both fish I caught last night (on eels hooked through the tail) were gut hooked. Fortunately both were keepers, but I don't think they'd have survived if not. None of the striper I caught with lip-hooked eels were gut hooked. Is there a particular way the striper attacks/eats an eel that makes one way better than the other? Intuitively, it makes sense to hook the eels through the lip and out the eye socket to avoid gut hooking the fish, but I was just curious what others' opinions are...especially those of you who have been using eels longer than I have. Or maybe I just did something wrong in the way I hooked them through the tail. Thanks!

 

[ASK4Fish]

So I'm hoping there are some striper fishing experts who can answer a question for me about how to hook eels when fishing for striper. I've been told to hook them both ways...by the tail or up under the jaw and out an eye socket and that it doesn't matter. I have now caught fish both ways, however, I'm now concerned about hooking eels through the tail. Both fish I caught last night (on eels hooked through the tail) were gut hooked. Fortunately both were keepers, but I don't think they'd have survived if not. None of the striper I caught with lip-hooked eels were gut hooked. Is there a particular way the striper attacks/eats an eel that makes one way better than the other? Intuitively, it makes sense to hook the eels through the lip and out the eye socket to avoid gut hooking the fish, but I was just curious what others' opinions are...especially those of you who have been using eels longer than I have. Or maybe I just did something wrong in the way I hooked them through the tail. Thanks!

hook in the mouth, and out an eye socket. Don't pin their mouths closed with the hook going up through the bottom jaw and out an eye socket. most bigger rock will hit eels head first, so quicker hook ups with head hooked eels. never gut hooked a rock with an eel so i cant comment to that, but id say smaller rock that might go for an eel tail first will get that hook further down while trying to swallow the whole eel... just my .02

 

[Benji]

It depends, I like to hook them through the tail if I'm putting it out under a float or on a fish finder rig. I find they'll tie fewer knots in my gear this way. If I'm casting eels in the surf or along rocks and working them back i hook through the jaw and out the eye. Helps keep them from hanging me up in the rocks .... sometimes. I also don't use lead if casting eels and working them back, eels have enough wheight to cast and will swim down on their own the lead is just something to get snagged.

 

[WalkingFumble]

I also don't use lead if casting eels and working them back, eels have enough wheight to cast and will swim down on their own the lead is just something to get snagged.

Don't know why it never occurred to me to try casting that way. A decent amount of bait on the hook plus a heavy fish finder rig is awkward to cast.