Are Live eels too alive?

[Frightnight]

I hear live eels are the way to go? I fished with live eels the other night and it was a mess. That eel just twisted around and around and tangled up the line and leader so bad, I could not untangle it. I just cut the line and threw the eel, line, and leader in the water, and the rest of the eels right behind it. What did I do wrong? Are they only for trawling?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Frightnight

I just cut the line and threw the eel, line, and leader in the water, and the rest of the eels right behind it. What did I do wrong?

For starters throwing your cut line and leader in the water. Don't litter!
Keep your eels on ice this will make them lethargic. Don't keep them in ice water because they will drown but use a three bucket system or one of those soft sided coolers with the freezer packs. You could even fill any size plastic bottle that suits yours needs with water and freeze it to use in your bucket or whatever you use. Another trick is to grip the eel by it's head (use a rag or scotchbrite) and whack it's tail on a rock. This will give it a stinger and bruise the tail so it won't ball up.
Fish your eels very, very slowly. If using a circlehook bow the rod and reel in slowly till you feel tension and the fish will hook itself, you can give a good tug up to make sure you have a good hookset. If fishing j hooks bow the rod and take up the slack then cross it's eyes. I don't let the fish run and feel it's a mistake to do so.
Fishing eels is not for everybody, it's best to fish with someone who has some experience doing so. It will make learning easier and more productive.

[Frightnight]

Thanks for the reply Dave. Makes a lot of sense. As far as the littering, I agree. I never litter, expecially the ocean, but did not know what to do with it because the eel was so wrapped up in the line and leader. Thanks again.