Captains’ Picks: Sand Eels - A Love/Hate Relationship 

If June has a theme, it’s small bait that can lead to big frustration — and this year, the matchstick-sized sand eels are back in force. As Capt. Matt Butcka put it, these tiny forage fish can create big challenges. They’re abundant, they move fast, they are often in a loose school, and when gamefish key in on them, it can feel like no lure or fly will get you tight.

To help crack the code, we tapped Capt. Tom Kosinski, Capt. Matt Butcka and Capt. Neal Vitullo will share what’s been working and how they’re handling the pickiness that comes with a full-blown sand eel bite.

Capt. Tom Kosinski: One Fly, Three Zones

Capt. Tom charters in Raritan Bay in New Jersey and takes a surgical approach to small sand eel scenarios, tying a single pattern in three variations to cover the entire water column. His go-to fly is a sparsely tied flat wing with just a couple strands of bucktail, a touch of flash, and a single thin feather on the back. The body is wrapped in Bill’s BodiBraid, and a dab of Softex on the tail prevents fouling.

Here’s how he fishes it:

• Top: A gurgler-style version with foam added. It's perfect when bass are sipping tiny bait off the top.

• Middle: Same fly, no weight. Paired with a floating line, it swims just below the surface.

• Bottom: Tied with red thread to mark it as his weighted version — lead wire on the shank lets it dredge over drop-offs and sandbars.

Tom typically starts with a 4” fly and trims it back on the water if needed. “It’s much easier to remove material than to add it,” he says. And if the bait is super thick, he’ll add a touch of color or upsize slightly to stand out.

With spin clients, Captain Tom likes the small size Ron Z or 6-inch Sluggo on a light jighead fished on an albie combo.

To fish with Captain Tom, go to Sandy Hook Outfitters

Capt. Matt Butcka: Spin For The Win

While flies are a key part of June’s puzzle, Capt. Matt reminds us that spin can steal the show by casting further and being quicker to reach a spread-out target.

When the fish are keyed in tight, Matt recommends:

• #2–6 Bendbacks or Lefty-style Clousers: Sparse is key, and these hi-tie patterns foul less than a Ray’s Fly.

• Buy bucktail in person: A good tie starts with good material, especially for smaller flies.

• Deeper presentations: Try a #1 or 1/0 Lefty Clouser with oversized eyes for extra drop.

On light tackle, Matt’s go-to techniques include:

• Hogy Epoxy Jigshave the best combination of casting distance and profile. Mix up the retrieves, and don't hesitate to "burn it"
• Slow-pitch jigs around reef structure to mimic stunned bait hugging the bottom.
  

• 6” Sluggos or GT Eels on jig heads — cast far, let them drop and work them painfully slow with subtle twitches.

Capt. Neal Vitullo: Go Light, Stay Patient

When fish are picky, Capt. Neal Vitullo focuses on subtle adjustments that make a big difference:

Fly Rod Tactics

• Downsize your tippet: He recommends 12 to 16 lb Cortland Premium Fluorocarbon for a more natural presentation.

• Don’t be fooled by surface action: “Even if fish are on top, there’s often more below.” He leans on a sinking line and sometimes just dead drifts a small flat wing in white or gray/olive over the structure.

• Use Spot-Lock: If you’ve got it, don’t drift through the fish — anchor up or Spot-Lock, especially on moon tides when the current is ripping.

Spin Rod Tactics

• Neal recommends the JoeBaggs Sand Eel or Miracle Minnow, along with small epoxy lures fished on 12–15 lb leader.

• Anglers sometimes see the abundant bait and the predator and overlook the other predators feeding on the same biomass. Squid and seabass are prime examples. Don't hesitate to throw a Fish Snax XL or a dark twitch bait, for example. 

To fish with Captain Neal go to Played For It Charters

To hear a hard driving blues band go to Young Neal and the Vipers

Final Word: Match the Hatch — But Make it Yours

Tiny sand eels can create some of the most selective bites of the season. Whether you’re fishing a gurgler on the flats or bouncing a jig through a midwater blitz, the key is reading the fish and staying versatile.

Sometimes it’s about downsizing. Sometimes it’s doing something just different enough to get noticed. 

The takeaway? Come prepared, be patient, and stay ready. These “match sticks” may be small, but they could lead to some of your best fishing of the season.

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