American Eel

[Cowpokey]

I don't know if it's AMERICAN Eel but Eels are great bait for stripers. I know in the early 90's they were really popular pitching the bridge pilings with them. Think they probably have an issue with swallowing the hook and all.

American is the only kind of eel that it looks like, but I'm no expert on them. If anyone knows of different/correct name please post up, I'm always trying to learn more.

[Capt C-Hawk]

First, you have an amazing daughter. Second, that thing must be sedated somehow or very well behaved. Every eel I've ever landed has wrapped around my wrist and as far up my arm as it could reach leaving gooey, sticky eel snot all over me. There is no bottom rig that is worth that experience ever again. That's what snips are for.

Just to add a short story, once while floating live eels for stripers on the bar at Lower Cedar Point on the Potomac, my father had a strong run off and set the hook. The catch.... a 47 1/2" eel that was almost 4" in diameter. Cut that leader above the swivel.

[clm]

Saw a you tube video of a kid basically petting them to calm them down. Then picking them up. No thanks. I will cut the line or call cowkid to handle it

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[daolai]

Yes mad props to your daughter I too caught one at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge I think I was screaming like a woman while reaching for my knife to cut my line

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Eel is excellent to eat. That having been said, it's also a kick to release them alive. We just don't have the numbers of eel that we used to.

[Cowpokey]

First, you have an amazing daughter. Second, that thing must be sedated somehow or very well behaved. Every eel I've ever landed has wrapped around my wrist and as far up my arm as it could reach leaving gooey, sticky eel snot all over me. There is no bottom rig that is worth that experience ever again. That's what snips are for.

Just to add a short story, once while floating live eels for stripers on the bar at Lower Cedar Point on the Potomac, my father had a strong run off and set the hook. The catch.... a 47 1/2" eel that was almost 4" in diameter. Cut that leader above the swivel.

It had been on ice for a bit, so sedated: yes. Wow, 47 1/2" eel; that's a big one! I should have measured this one, didn't even think about it. Based on my daughter's size, I'd estimate her eel at 30 inches.

Saw a you tube video of a kid basically petting them to calm them down. Then picking them up. No thanks. I will cut the line or call cowkid to handle it

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

I asked her who took it off the hook, she said, "mom". My wife is pretty well versed in dealing with eel, she caught a silver ribbon fish or belt eel or what ever they're called...in Korea all the time. Those rascals had teeth, the one Cowkid2 caught had teeth like a bass. She said it squirmed around a lot, but other than slime she said it was harmless.

[Cowpokey]

Yes mad props to your daughter I too caught one at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge I think I was screaming like a woman while reaching for my knife to cut my line

LOL, I'm not a big fan of them either, I would have to get my wife to take it off the hook.

Eel is excellent to eat. That having been said, it's also a kick to release them alive. We just don't have the numbers of eel that we used to.

I've never had it, just doesn't look appetizing...another reason I'd release it too.

[CAGE RATTLER]

Used to catch alot of eels in the upper bay years ago but havent caught one since the 80's.
Never even thought of eating one though.

Did see a duck come up with an eel hanging out of its mouth last year at my marina so I guess they are still around.

[jet]

when i was a kid, say 20 years ago, i would catch eels at sandy point and matapeak with my dad. hated them as much as toad fish! would love to land one now, but i remember them wraping crazy around my line. thanks for the pic

[Homebrew76]

Just to add a short story, once while floating live eels for stripers on the bar at Lower Cedar Point on the Potomac, my father had a strong run off and set the hook. The catch.... a 47 1/2" eel that was almost 4" in diameter. Cut that leader above the swivel.

Damn, that is some eel! My first day out in my new kayak last week I caught my personal best eel (not on purpose!) measuring 29 inches.

[john from md]

In the sixties and seventies we used to catch them all the time if you were bottom fishing for sea bass or flounder. I thought they went the way of the blow fish as I haven't seen them in a long time. You can deep fry them and they taste pretty good. They are snotty to handle though.

Dang, now I just remembered how good fried blow fish was. What a shame we killed them all off.

John

[LoudounFisher]

I wouldn't eat it.

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemi...tomacRiver.htm

[Katfish Jones]

That's a nice eel. I caught one a few years ago in the Patuxent that was about half that size. It tangled itself all up in my line and was super slimy. It was a total mess.

[Cowpokey]

I wouldn't eat it.

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemi...tomacRiver.htm

That's a good point...I don't know where they caught it, but I'm going to find out after work...my wife saved a waypoint in the GPS of her Jeep.

I looked at the Maryland fish advisory, there are some warnings for different areas. Even if they aren't listed for where they caught it, eel in general don't look too safe by the advisory. Unless this is more nanny state safety..thoughts?