American Eel Fishing Guide

The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) has one of the most extraordinary life histories of any North American fish. All American eels are born as tiny, transparent larvae (leptocephali) in the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda, then drift on ocean currents to reach the East Coast of North America — a journey that may take 1–2 years. Once they arrive, they transform into glass eels and enter freshwater rivers, where they spend up to 20 years feeding and growing before transforming again into silver adults and migrating back to the Sargasso Sea to spawn — and die. The Sargasso Sea is the only known spawning location; no human has ever observed American eels spawning in the wild. Eel populations have declined by over 90% in the past 50 years, largely due to dams blocking migration routes — eliminating the vast majority of their historical freshwater habitat.

American Eel is a freshwater and saltwater species.

Habitat

Atlantic coast rivers from Newfoundland to Mexico; also found in land-locked lakes with historical river connections. Females occupy freshwater habitat for years, moving progressively upstream; males tend to remain in estuaries and lower rivers. The species historically occupied nearly all Atlantic drainages east of the Appalachians.

Diet

Primarily small fish, crayfish, worms, aquatic insects, and carrion; feeds primarily at night using a powerful sense of smell to locate prey. Eels are important nocturnal predators in rivers and estuaries — their biomass in undamaged watersheds can be substantial.

Fishing Techniques

• Nightcrawlers on bottom rig at night
• Live crayfish near rocky stream bottoms
• Small jigs in current seams after dark

Best Seasons

Summer, Fall

Size & Records

Average weight: 0.75 lbs. World record: 9.4 lbs (Cliff Pond, Massachusetts, USA (1992)).