To keep menhaden alive, anglers must use a livewell with an outboard intake and discharge. However, eels are much more durable and can simply be placed on ice inside a plastic grocery bag packed with paper towels. Icing eels slows down wriggling, making them easier to handle. Holding the eel with a paper towel keeps slime off the hands.
Hook the eel through both lips with an 8/0 or 9/0 circle or J-hook. Cobia won’t swallow the bait deep because the hook is set so quickly. If fishing a J-hook, the hook is set immediately and the fish is struck several times for a deep hookset. When using a circle hook, the line is simply tightened and the fish sets the hook as it runs.
An eel or menhaden can also be hooked through the lips or nose with the same jig used for fishing a soft plastic trailer.
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