Eel (Anguilla anguilla)

An international traveller

Eels are an unmistakable species, long, thin and snake-like with a slimy body, hence such sayings as ‘slippery as an eel’. The eel can be found around the British Isles, and the British record weighs in at 11lb 2oz, dating back to 1978.

The eel is a famous international marine traveller completing only part of its life cycle in freshwaters or coastal areas, where it is fished for by both rod and net. Spawning has not been observed, but it is believed to take place in the spring, deep in the Sargasso Sea, between Bermuda and the Bahamas. Maturing females, although their eggs have not been collected, are reported to contain up to 10 million eggs.

The eggs develop into a ‘leaf-like’ larva called a leptocephalus, and it was originally thought that these larvae took three years to migrate to the European coast. However, recent studies suggest that the journey may take as little as 12 months, swimming between one half and five nautical miles per hour.

When the larvae reach the continental shelf they change into what is called the ‘glass eel’ stage before continuing with their migration. In the British Isles, during the spring, March to May, once temperatures have reached about nine degrees centigrade, the glass eels make their migration through the estuaries and into freshwater

Elvers and yellow eels

To facilitate their passage through the estuary they use the tidal currents, migrating upstream on the flood tide. During the ebb tide they move out of the current towards the bank side to prevent being washed out to sea, but where they are more easily caught.

In a number of British estuaries, but most notably in the Severn, they are exploited, mainly with dip nets. Since the late 1970s there had been a fall in the catch of glass eel/elver.

This decline is thought to be closely related to the position of the north wall of the Gulf Stream, with lower catches reflecting a more northerly position of the Gulf Stream. Other possible causes for the decline include pollution, barriers to migration and over-fishing. Once the glass eel develop pigmentation they are referred to as ‘elver’ and are very similar in shape to the adult eel.

In fresh water the eel lives on or near the bottom, often digging into the gravel, and migrates slowly upstream. During this period they are generally referred to as brown/yellow eels, due to their colour. Moving further upstream eels become fewer and more dispersed. Although the eels in the upper reaches are generally fewer, they tend to be much larger than in the lower reaches.

Methods of Capture.

The smaller Eel can be caught with worm or maggot, generally when fishing for another species. Leger tactics are favoured as the Eel is a bottom dweller. The larger specimen can be caught with freshwater dead-baits in the 4 - 6 cm size range, legered over a pre-baited area. The groundbait can consist of minced fish and offal which has some excellent results especially if used prior to fishing. The Eel will as a rule run with the bait initially prior to swallowing it. Allow the fish time to run but from the point of striking, keep the line taught at all times. It can also be advantageous to use a swivel between the hook length and main line. Strong tackle is highly recommended.