Hunting For Sandeels At Donegal Thatched Cottages

Sandeels are about 9 inches ( 23 cm ) long and as thick as your finger. They generally swim in teeming shoals and form the staple diet of larger fish such as pollock. However, true to their name they also come into the shelter of sandy estuaries and hide in the sand of shallow rivers. On Cruit Island you will find them at the mouth of the shallow river over towards Kincasslagh pier. Here it is possible to catch them by standing heels together, toes apart in shallow water when the tide is out. Bending down and reaching forward as far as possible, pull an ordinary kitchen knife through the sand towards your heels.

Repeat this exercise from another location until you feel the wriggle of a sandeel in the vee at your heels. With your other hand reach down and lift the struggling sandeel into a bucket or other suitable container. Bear in mind however that this is not as simple as it sounds………many people panic when they first encounter that wriggling sensation ! If conditions and your technique are right it is possible to catch a bucketful of sandeels, but please only keep what you will eat. It is advisable to wear wellingtons and a rubber glove in case you encounter a lesser wever in the sand. This fish has a potentially dangerous sting and is accasionally found in just such sandy estuaries.

There is no need to fillet or clean out the sandeels. They can be pan-fried with garlic while fresh and have a delicious seafood taste. Happy hunting.

Hunting For Sandeels At Donegal Thatched Cottages

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