What's eating my bait??

[nymm1t]

Hi guys,

New here

I tried fishing at a small river last night. It's a tributary that goes into the Raritan River (about a mile away). I had bluegill cutbait on a 2/0 circle hook and got bites almost instantly. Water was pretty murky and maybe 3'-5' deep? The rod tip would keep getting tapped and when I pull, nothing. But the cutbait was all ripped up. I tried with worms on smaller hooks and still couldn't get a hookset. The rod tip wouldn't ever stay bent but something does seem to carry the bait just a bit before it drops. Any ideas what this might be?

[Esox Luciano]

https://youtu.be/FQzmmENBvLk

[nymm1t]

Originally Posted by Esox Luciano

https://youtu.be/FQzmmENBvLk

I haven't seen any turtles in that entire stretch of water. No turtles poking their heads out either...

[AndyS]

Eels, you would be surprised how many there are.

[BottomBouncer13]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Eels, you would be surprised how many there are.

Yeah ive had similar nights on the d and r and millstone. Eels are definitely annoying some nights

[nymm1t]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Eels, you would be surprised how many there are.

Ooh interesting. I'll try downsizing my hooks and bait? Thanks for the input

[nymm1t]

Originally Posted by BottomBouncer13

Yeah ive had similar nights on the d and r and millstone. Eels are definitely annoying some nights

I'll try catching those then I guess

[Fishinfire]

Catch the eels, stun them a bit, stick a hook through their head and toss it back in!

[Billfish715]

Originally Posted by nymm1t

Hi guys,

New here

I tried fishing at a small river last night. It's a tributary that goes into the Raritan River (about a mile away). I had bluegill cutbait on a 2/0 circle hook and got bites almost instantly. Water was pretty murky and maybe 3'-5' deep? The rod tip would keep getting tapped and when I pull, nothing. But the cutbait was all ripped up. I tried with worms on smaller hooks and still couldn't get a hookset. The rod tip wouldn't ever stay bent but something does seem to carry the bait just a bit before it drops. Any ideas what this might be?

With the set up you were using (2/0 Circle Hook), I'm assuming you were fishing for catfish.Even if you downsized your hook size to a #6 and used the same cut bait, the small fish (and I assume that's what they were) will tear at it and keep pecking at the meat. Sunnies and bluegills, chubs, shiners are all likely culprits. Eels seldom chew or nibble. Miniature small mouths are everywhere and can cannibalize a bait. Depending how small or large your hook is might be where you are going wrong. Small hooks can catch even oversized fish but hooks that are too large generally do not find their way into the mouths of small fish.

I've had bluegills pull on a bait and drag a small bobber for quite a distance without ever getting close to the hook. It's hard to offer a legitimate answer to your question. Were you fishing with a split shot of some sort or were you using a bobber? Did the fish run with the bait or did it just nibble? My guess is that it was a small fish of some sort or even a bunch of small fish that were chewing on the meat. Next time, use a live sunny on your 2/0. You might be very surprised!

[Mark B.]

What's eating my legs?

Wet wade fishing in the Delaware River, I've had schools of minnows nipping at the hairs on my legs. And, something bigger gave a good nip to the back of my thigh. That was startling! It happened again and I got a glimpse of the culprit,.....an eel. I was standing still, fishing w/crawdad tails for channel cats. The minnows thought my leg hairs were worms, the eel probably thought I was dead meat.