Reel Repair by Alan Tani

As a visitor recently I got to revisit the Oregon coast and saw a boat in Newport with a load of strange to me "barrel pots" or maybe holding pots on board.   I,m thinking to retain caught yet to go to market crab in???    Can anybody clue me in to what these are used for? 

Just a guess but they look like slime eel (hagfish) pots.

Yup, those are eel pots

Tim

Gotta love those hagfish! Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro does a collection trip on the First String every June. The first stop they make is to pull up a pot (by hand) and then everyone gets to play with hagfish...after the lecture of course. I use to take my daughter on this trip for getting good grades. The amount of slime these guys produce is incredible!
-Mike

I got tired just from watching those guys .

Who says commercial fishing ain't glamorous.  I had to wiki-up what they do with hagfish and learned:
"Hagfish are not often eaten, owing to their repugnant looks and sliminess. However the inshore hagfish, found in the Northwest Pacific, is valued as food in Korea. The hagfish is kept alive and irritated by rattling its container with a stick, prompting it to produce slime in large quantities. This slime is used in a similar manner as egg whites in various forms of cookery in the region." and.... "Hagfish skin, used in a variety of clothing accessories, is usually referred to as eel skin. It produces a particularly durable leather, especially suitable for wallets and belts."
-steve

I think you gotta really be a hardcore commercial fisherman to handle those puppies.  I must be a wus because I find them so repulsive I once snagged one and instead of trying to remove it from my hook I just cut the line and tossed it back. No way I was grabbing it.

Not sure about the slime, they could have it, but the eels I do enjoy. Baked with olive oil and bay leaves is the best.
They need to be cleaned really good, no trace of slime.

I wonder what they do with the ones caught above?

They are shipped to Korea.

Quote from: Alto Mare on January 12, 2017, 11:26:03 AM
Not sure about the slime, they could have it, but the eels I do enjoy. Baked with olive oil and bay leaves is the best.
They need to be cleaned really good, no trace of slime.

I wonder what they do with the ones caught above?

Sal: I think you are referencing a different eel, at least I know I don't eat that species of eel. But I like eel also especially smoked.

Joe 

Quote from: Reel 224 on January 12, 2017, 04:17:19 PM

Quote from: Alto Mare on January 12, 2017, 11:26:03 AM
Not sure about the slime, they could have it, but the eels I do enjoy. Baked with olive oil and bay leaves is the best.
They need to be cleaned really good, no trace of slime.

I wonder what they do with the ones caught above?

Sal: I think you are referencing a different eel, at least I know I don't eat that species of eel. But I like eel also especially smoked.

Joe  

Hagfish are not the same eel.

Thanks folks for the info and great video,  That answered my question.  This site rocks!

Quote from: Reel 224 on January 12, 2017, 04:17:19 PM

Quote from: Alto Mare on January 12, 2017, 11:26:03 AM
Not sure about the slime, they could have it, but the eels I do enjoy. Baked with olive oil and bay leaves is the best.
They need to be cleaned really good, no trace of slime.

I wonder what they do with the ones caught above?

Sal: I think you are referencing a different eel, at least I know I don't eat that species of eel. But I like eel also especially smoked.

Joe 

You are correct Joe, i wouldn't touch that creature if I was using it for bait.
Here is what we usually have at Christmas Eve dinner:

Capitone is much larger than eels, but we also have eels as Lee is showing

Here is how we usually have it, grilled or baked with bay leaves...good stuff.


Thanks guys.

Sal

Now there's a face only a mother could love.

Quote from: Alto Mare on January 12, 2017, 05:36:33 PM

Quote from: Reel 224 on January 12, 2017, 04:17:19 PM

Quote from: Alto Mare on January 12, 2017, 11:26:03 AM
Not sure about the slime, they could have it, but the eels I do enjoy. Baked with olive oil and bay leaves is the best.
They need to be cleaned really good, no trace of slime.

I wonder what they do with the ones caught above?

Sal: I think you are referencing a different eel, at least I know I don't eat that species of eel. But I like eel also especially smoked.

Joe 

You are correct Joe, i wouldn't touch that creature if I was using it for bait.
Here is what we usually have at Christmas Eve dinner:

Capitone is much larger than eels, but we also have eels as Lee is showing

Here is how we usually have it, grilled or baked with bay leaves...good stuff.


Thanks guys.

Sal

Now your talkin! Great dish!

Joe