SANDEELS & STRIPED BASS
- phil32990
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Every June, the coast of Cape Cod becomes rich with one of the striped bass favorite food choices. One of the most important predator-prey relationships in the Cape Cod marine ecosystem is the dynamic between sandeels and striped bass. This interaction not only drives the behavior and survival of these species but also plays a central role in the health of coastal fisheries and marine biodiversity.
What Are Sandeels?
Sandeels, sometimes called sand lances, are small, slender fish that inhabit the sandy seabeds of shallow coastal waters. These fish are not true eels but get their name from their long, eel-like appearance and their habit of burrowing into the sand.
Sandeels are incredibly prolific and form dense schools, making them a key forage fish. They feed primarily on plankton and, in turn, are prey for a wide range of marine predators—including fluke, cod, bluefish, and especially striped bass.
The Striped Bass: A Coastal Predator
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis), also known as stripers or rockfish, are one of the most iconic game fish in the United States. Ranging from the Gulf of Mexico up through the northeastern U.S. and into Canadian waters, these fish are known for their strength, size, and migratory habits. Striped bass migrate along the coast, chasing schools of baitfish during seasonal changes.
One of their most critical food sources during these migrations is the sandeel.
A Critical Link in the Food Chain
The relationship between sandeels and striped bass is a prime example of how prey abundance influences predator health and behavior. When sandeel populations are strong, striped bass tend to thrive. These small fish are energy-rich and relatively easy for the bass to catch in large numbers. During the spring and fall migrations—when bass move inshore to feed—sandeels often make up a significant portion of their diet.
Anglers who track the presence of sandeels often find better success, as striped bass will follow these bait schools into bays, estuaries, and surf zones. Artificial lures that mimic sandeels are widely used by surfcasters and fly fisherman, especially in regions like Cape Cod, Long Island, and the Jersey Shore.
What lures should you use to mimic the sandeel?
Of course, you can always just use fresh sandeels for bait- nearly every tackle shop has them in stock in season. The problem is, striped bass tend to swallow them deep which makes successful release problematic. Many conservation minded anglers elect to use artificial lures that mimic the size, profile and swimming action of a sandeel. Which lures are most effective at fooling stripers feeding on sandeels? Here are our top 6 choices:
1. Ron Z-Saltwater fisherman love it for snook, striped bass, redfish, seatrout, blackfin tuna, bonito and much more! In freshwater, it's deadly on salmon, trout, bass and pike. BUY NOW
Dawa SP Minnow-Daiwa’s sinking and fast sinking Salt Pro Minnow Bullet has a tight S action to imitate a real fish swimming. Originally designed for surf fishing for striped bass but versatile to catch many other varieties of gamefish. BUY NOW
MIGHTY FISH A17-The Mighty Fish Tackle Company Diamond Jig features a sleek hydrodynamic design. It excels in trolling, casting, or jigging applications. BUY NOW
Savage Gear Sandeel-This stunning and unique lure is a supernatural sand eel imitation. The sand eel is a favorite snack of many predator fish. These soft-bodied swimbait lures have a strike-enticing swimming action that is second to none. This bait is perfect for vertical jigging, casting or trolling. BUY NOW
THE MIGHTY FISH EPOXY JIG-The Mighty Fish Epoxy Jig features a vibrant scale finish, lead core, surrounded by an ultra durable coat of epoxy for excellent durability. Epoxies light weight to length ratio produce the perfect balance of size, weight and casting distance, making them a perfect option for casting to surface blitzes. BUY NOW
Bill Hurley-The Cape Cod Sand Eel lure is made by Bill Hurley lures. This Sand eel imitation matches up perfectly with the bait and has an extra strong hook. A lot of big Striped Bass have been caught of this lure. BUY NOW
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