How to catch Short-finned eel
Anguilla australis Richardson, 1841
About Short-finned eel fishing
The short-finned eel is a long and snakelike fish belonging to the family Anguillidae, featuring a tubular body and small head with jaws reaching beneath the eye. Its colour varies from deep olive-green to golden brown with a pale silvery underside. Growing up to a maximum length of 130 centimetres and a maximum weight of 7.48 kilograms, females generally reach larger sizes than males. This catadromous species inhabits freshwater streams, slow-flowing rivers, lakes, and swamps, descending to marine waters to spawn. As a ferocious nocturnal ambush predator, it feeds on crustaceans, small fish, and aquatic insects. Despite its slimy appearance, it is highly regarded for its rich flesh.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
45 cm TL
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Habitat
Freshwater, Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Autumn, Winter
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Also known as
Australian shortfinned eel, Australian short-finned eel, Eel, Freshwater eel, River eel, Shortfin eel
Short dorsal fin
Dorsal fin origin is located far back, distinguishing it from long-finned eels.
Elongate body
Snakelike cylindrical body shape typical of freshwater eels.
Short-finned eel fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
45 cm TL (max 130 cm TL ) -
Typical weight
1.2 kg (max 7.5 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
4.3–9.1 °C -
Depth
423 m -
Longevity
32 years -
Body shape
Eel Like -
Vulnerability score
78.4
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 Short-finned eel
How to catch Short-finned eel
Tips for catching Short-finned eel
Targeting short-finned eels requires focusing on slow-flowing waters, muddy margins, and deep holes in rivers and lakes where these ambush predators hide during daylight hours. Since they feed primarily after dark, the most effective sessions take place from dusk through the night using heavy bottom rigs or ledgering setups. Natural baits such as worms, small fish, or fresh cut bait work best to entice their keen sense of smell. Anglers should fish close to submerged structures like fallen logs, undercut banks, and weed beds where eels wait for passing prey. Autumn and summer months provide the most consistent sport, especially during warm, overcast nights when activity levels peak significantly.
Other names for Short-finned eel
Local and alternate names anglers use for Short-finned eel.
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Silver eel
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Short-finned freshwater eel
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Short-finned eel
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Australian short-finned eel
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Shortfinned eel
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Shortfin eel
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River eel
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Freshwater eel
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Eel
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Southern shortfin eel
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Yellow eel
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Australian shortfinned eel
How Short-finned 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 Short-finned eel
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Diet
Top predator -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Night -
Main prey
Baitfish · Bottom prey
Prey and predators of Short-finned eel
Prey is what Short-finned eel eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Predators
What hunts it
Fish
Where Short-finned eel lives
Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.
River mouth
Where this species lives
Short-finned eel photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for Short-finned eel
Mapped fishing spots where Short-finned eel is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
