Species guide
How to catch American eel
Anguilla rostrata
The American eel is a slender, snake-like fish found across freshwater, brackish, and saltwater environments in the Americas and Atlantic Europe. They are nocturnal hunters, often hiding in underwater crevices during the day. This species can grow quite large, making it a challenging game fish.
Where they live
American eels inhabit streams with continuous flow, hiding under banks, logs, and boulders. They can be found from shallow waters to depths around 460 meters in North and South America and parts of Europe.
Typical size
Up to about 152 cm
What they eat
- insects
- small fish
- worms
- crustaceans
- snails
Best baits
- nightcrawlers
- small live fish
- shrimp
Best lures
- soft plastic worms
- jigs
- spinnerbaits
How to fish for them
- bottom fishing
- drift fishing
- bait fishing
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