 AKA: eel, silver eel, yellow eel, freshwater eel.
MINIMUM LEGAL SIZE:
no minimum (effective
14 November 2003).
BAG/POSSESSION LIMIT: 10.
Landed whole or as a carcass.
Note: a total bag/possession limit of 40 fish applies to all scale fish species.
Not usually a deliberate target for freshwater anglers, long and
short-finned eels usually take bait intended for other species and will
strike at almost anything that presents itself. Eels can be very long
lived with females capable of reaching 35 years and males 25 years.
Their life-cycle is very interesting and, according to Native Fish Australia,
mature adults migrate from fresh water to the sea in order to spawn
after which it is believed they die. Where they actually spawn is
uncertain but is believed to be in the South Coral Sea off the coast of
North Queensland. Mature females about a metre in length have been
found to contain more than 3 million eggs.
The
eel larvae, known as leptocephali because of their leaf like flat
shape, are carried south by the east Australian current from their
spawning grounds until they reach the continental shelf. At around this
time they metamorphose into the normal tubular eel shape, although
devoid of any pigment and so are known as glass eels. When the glass
eels begin to migrate into fresh water they may be anywhere from one to
three years old. Migration begins in the autumn in northern regions
reaching western Victoria by mid spring. Whilst in the estuarine waters
the glass eels quickly develop into fully pigment elvers and adjust to
fresh water.
Subsequent migrations from the estuaries into fresh
water involve both elvers and glass eels and may happen after, during
or before the main migration from the sea. These migrations are know as
“eel fares” from which the term “elver” is derived. Generally these
occur at night and may involve as many as four different age classes.
The
upstream migration continues well into the upper reaches of the river
systems and elvers and glass eels (and adults) can overcome even large
obstructions such as dams and waterfalls by the simple expedient of
traveling overland in damp conditions, with a motion much like snakes.
SIZE: Can reach more than 1 metre and weigh up to 3kg.
WHERE:
Widespread and common in coastal river systems in Victoria, Tasmania
and the larger Bass Straight islands. Often preferring still waters
such as lakes, dams and swamps, nevertheless often quite abundant in
rivers and streams, especially in areas of lower water velocity. Found
in a wide range of habitats throughout it range.
TACKLE: 4-6kg line with hooks 1/0 to 2/0 and a light running sinker.
BAIT: bardi grubs, fish strips, worms.
BITE: Will fight vigourously when it is about to be landed.
EATING: Can be good eating if skinned and cut into suitable lengths.
Some information on this page used with permission from Native Fish Australia. Regulatory information on this page has been sourced from Fisheries Victoria, Department of Primary Industries.
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