How to get monkeyface eel out of hole

#1
This has happened to me about 10+ times when I am fishing in rocky areas.

When the mokeyface eel bites my hi-lo rig, I think its tail grips on rock or hole pretty tightly. This makes me impossible to pull the fish out. Whenever I give it some slack, I can feel it trying to get deeper into the hole with "tug, tug, tug" rhythm, so that I know I'm not just snagged.

Waiting seems not helping in this case as the eel does not let go any sooner. The stalemate situation always ends up with me giving up and pull the line with (protected) hand, and broke the line/leader (50lb braid+60lb leader). I think I lost many big eels :(

May I know if there are any tricks to solve this issue? Thanks!
 
#3
Perhaps if targeting monkeyface a single hook would be a better rig.
^good advice. If you're getting stuck because of a 2nd hook, there's nothing you can do besides fish bronze hooks that you can bend out.

With eels you want to apply constant pressure and tire them out. The bigger ones take longer, but keep pressure up & you should start to feel them slipping slightly. I only fish with 10-20lb leader, so once they start tugging on the way out I have to give a little ground (couple inches) while keeping tension. As long as you keep up the pressure you'll continue to slowly work them out.

You should really only be giving slack if the hook or weight gets wedged somewhere (though make sure its not the fish lodging itself, keep pulling in this case). These guys get their energy back fast!

The only other important thing is make sure you're pulling directly away from the hole. If you're pulling around a rock or something you may not be tiring them out much. Big eels are strong & have insane amounts of stamina.
 

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#5
Ditto on the words above. When I am fishing the "rocks" at certain piers I will usually switch from a high/low to a single hook just to avoid the hook that is not attached to a fish from getting caught in the rocks. And, when fishing the "rocks," I always hold the rod and apply pressure to the fish as soon as it is hooked.
 

DSRTEGL

Well-Known Member
#10
Great. Some more information or hints? Thanks!
I got those poke poling......but now I go after Monkeyface with a hand line and a good pair of gloves........Daron 60 pound main line.....a custom egg sinker (long and thin) I make myself, a bead, a swivel and a leader only a few inches long with a size 4 live bait hook and a strip of squid.....I drop the rig into likely holes and I have the index finger of my left glove so I can hold the line with it and feel the bite....Once you have one on....keep constant pressure....DO NOT GIVE UP....as soon as it starts to tire and slip.....pull hard until the eel locks up angain and repeat the process......I use a hand line because I got sick of breaking poke poles........
 
#12
I got those poke poling......but now I go after Monkeyface with a hand line and a good pair of gloves........Daron 60 pound main line.....a custom egg sinker (long and thin) I make myself, a bead, a swivel and a leader only a few inches long with a size 4 live bait hook and a strip of squid.....I drop the rig into likely holes and I have the index finger of my left glove so I can hold the line with it and feel the bite....Once you have one on....keep constant pressure....DO NOT GIVE UP....as soon as it starts to tire and slip.....pull hard until the eel locks up angain and repeat the process......I use a hand line because I got sick of breaking poke poles........
Thanks!!