Eel (Anquilla anquilla)

Record weight: 6lb 15oz Lough Droumensia, Bantry, Cork. 1979.

Freshwater eel – suspended from ISFC list of eligible species

In compliance with a new bye-law, the CONSERVATION OF EEL FISHING BYE-LAW NO. C.S. 303, 2009, eel has been suspended from the specimen list from 14th May 2009. Claims for specimen eels taken before 14th May 2009 will be accepted. The new bye-law prohibits fishing for eel, or possessing or selling eel caught in the State. The commercial eel fishery has also been closed to conserve eel stocks in Ireland.
The angling bye-law will cease on 30 June 2012. For further information on the bye-law see the following link: http://www.fishinginireland.info/coarse/eel.htm

Features:

The long snake like appearance of the eel is its most distinguishing feature. It has small gills and pectoral fins, and a narrow dorsal fin.

Spawning:

Unlike all other coarse fish species the eel spawns at sea. The location of these spawning grounds are believed to be in the Sargasso Sea, although no adult eel has ever been located in this area. The newly hatched transparent larvae migrate across the Atlantic in less than one year eventually metamorphosing into small pigmented eels called “elvers”. At this stage the eel migrates into freshwater usually between April-June. The eel remains in freshwater for 7-40 years and then prepares for migration back to the spawning grounds. Prior to its migration back to the Sargasso the coloration of the eel changes from golden to silvery hue.

Fecundity:

Adult female eels produce several million eggs.

Longevity (age):

Eels have been aged up to 40 years old.

Diet:

Eels feed mainly on invertebrates, crustaceans, small fish and insect larvae.

Best Angling Methods:

Float fishing and ledgering.

Best Baits:

Worms and maggots in general. Small deadbaits are deadly for big specimens.

Best Times to Fish Eel
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
★	★	★	★	★	★	★★	★★	★★	★★	★	★
Note: ★ Good time to fish Eel      ★ ★ Very good time to fish Eel

Top 20 specimen eel from Irish waters

No	Weight (lbs ozs)	Weight (kg)	Location	Date of Capture	Angler	Method
1	6 lbs 15ozs	3.147 kgs	Droumenisa Like, Bantry	12/06/1979	John Murnane	Worms
2	6 lbs 4 ozs	2.835 kgs	Lough Naback, Co. Cavan	04/07/1982	David Grimes	Maggots
3	5 lbs 15 ozs	2.693 kgs	Knockalough, Co. Clare	04/09/1979	Philip Treytel (NL)	Strip of Trout
4	5 lbs 15 ozs	2.693 kgs	R. Shannon, Clondra	25/09/1968	Edmund Hawksworth	Lobworms
5	-	2.608 kgs	Calloughs Lake, Northern Region	18/05/2001	Des McIntyre	Worms
6	5 lbs 11.5 ozs	2.594 kgs	Lough Bawn, Northern Region	04/10/1998	Master Ciaran Maxwell	Worms
7	5 lbs 11 ozs	2.580 kgs	River Barrow	11/07/1985	Kevin Murphy	Worms
8	5 lbs 10 ozs	2.551 kgs	Aughrusbeg Lake, WRFB	21/09/1978	J. J. Smits	Worms
9	-	2.500 kgs	Lough Derravaragh, Shannon Region	12/08/1993	Greg Long	Worms
10	5 lbs 7 ozs	2.466 kgs	Ballylagan Lake, Northern Ireland	26/05/1995	David Markey	Nymph
11	-	2.440 kgs	Lough Lene, Eastern Region	17/06/2006	Michael Flanagan	Worms
12	-	2.381 kgs	The Lough, Cork	09/05/2001	John Healy	Worms
13	5 lbs 2 ozs	2.325 kgs	Aughrusbeg Lake, Western Region	04/09/1978	J. J. Smits	Worms
14	5 lbs 2 ozs	2.325 kgs	White Lake, Eastern Region	05/06/1988	Paddy Carolan	Worms
15	5 lbs 2 ozs	2.325 kgs	White Lake, Eastern Region	19/06/1988	Oliver Kelly	Worms
16	5 lbs 0 ozs	2.268 kgs	The Lough, Cork	12/07/1976	Jim McGrath	Dead Rudd
17	4 lbs 15.5 ozs	2.254 kgs	Lake Gorteen, Shannon Region	26/09/1999	Robin Brazier	Dog Biscuit
18	4 lbs 15 ozs	2.240 kgs	River Lee, Inniscarra Res.	25/09/1998	Bill Collins	Lobworm
19	4 lbs 14 ozs	2.211 kgs	Stoneyford Res., Antrim	29/09/1977	John Huddleston	Worms
20	4 lbs 11 ozs	2.126 kgs	Dromtine Lake, Sneem, Co. Kerry	10/07/1972	A. Koppendraaier	Fish strip