How to catch American eel
Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur, 1817)
About American eel fishing
The American eel is an elongated, snake-like freshwater fish belonging to the family Anguillidae, featuring a slender body covered in a protective mucus layer and minute embedded scales. It grows to a maximum length of 152 cm and a top weight of 7.33 kg, with females typically exceeding males in size. Characterised by a conical head, small eyes, and confluent dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, this species exhibits a variable coloration ranging from olive green and brown to yellowish-white on the belly. As a catadromous fish, it inhabits freshwater streams, rivers, and muddy lakes as well as brackish and marine environments down to 464 metres, before migrating long distances to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. It hunts primarily at night, feeding on a diverse diet of aquatic insects, crustaceans, worms, and small fish, while spending daylight hours hiding in burrows, undercut banks, and deep structural cover.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
50 cm TL
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Habitat
Freshwater, Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Common eel, Eel, Elver (joven), Freshwater eel, Silver eel
Continuous Fins
Dorsal and anal fins are continuous with the caudal fin.
No Pelvic Fins
Absence of pelvic fins distinguishes this eel from many other fish.
Terminal Mouth
Terminal mouth position with protruding lower jaw identifies the eel.
American eel fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
50 cm TL (max 152 cm TL ) -
Typical weight
1.2 kg (max 7.3 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
0.5–24.3 °C -
Depth
0–464 m -
Longevity
43 years -
Body shape
Eel Like -
Vulnerability score
72.1
Best hours
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Active
Dawn
First light
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Low
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Low
Afternoon
Late day
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Active
Dusk
Last light
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Peak
Night
After dark
When to fish for American eel
How to catch American eel
Tips for catching American eel
Targeting American eels requires a nocturnal approach, as these bottom-dwelling predators feed actively after dark when they leave their daytime hiding spots in muddy banks, snags, and deep river pools. Bottom fishing with sturdy ledger rigs baited with fresh worms, strips of fish, or small crustaceans is the most effective presentation, keeping the bait pinned securely to the riverbed or lake floor where the eels forage by scent. A sensitive quiver-tip or loose line setup is essential to detect subtle pickup bites before the fish retreats into heavy cover with the bait. The warmer months from late spring through autumn offer the most reliable sport, particularly on dark, humid nights with low barometric pressure when feeding activity peaks.
Other names for American eel
Local and alternate names anglers use for American eel.
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American eel
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Silver eel
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Freshwater eel
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Elver (joven)
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Eel
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Common eel
How American eel migrates — Catadromous
Grows in fresh or brackish water and migrates to the sea to spawn. Estuaries and lower rivers fire when adults drop downstream.
1 Eggs
Sea
Spawned out at sea.
2 Larvae
→ Estuary
Drift with the currents towards the coast.
3 Juveniles
→ Fresh water
Enter estuaries, and many move on into fresh water.
4 Adults
Fresh water
Feed and grow in rivers, lakes and estuaries, often for years.
5 Spawners
→ Sea
Head downstream and out to sea to spawn.
Many only reach estuaries and the lower river; eels travel far inland.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of American eel
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Diet
Carnivore -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Night -
Feeds over
Intertidal
Prey and predators of American eel
Prey is what American eel eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Predators
What hunts it
Where American eel lives
Lives on or just above the bottom. Work jigs, bait, and lures along the seabed.
0–464 m
River mouth
Where this species lives
American eel photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for American eel
Mapped fishing spots where American eel is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
