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American Eel

Anguilla rostrata

Water Type

Freshwater

Also known as

Yellow Eel, Silver Eel

IUCN status

Endangered

About the American Eel

The American Eel is unmistakable with its serpentine, slender body, often olive-brown to yellow-brown (the 'yellow eel' stage) or silvery-black (the 'silver eel' stage) on top and paler underneath. Its skin, covered in a thick mucous layer, makes it feel incredibly slick despite possessing minute, almost imperceptible scales. A long, continuous dorsal fin merges seamlessly with its caudal and anal fins, giving it a distinctive ribbon-like appearance.

Source: FishBase & iNaturalist

Habitat

This incredibly adaptable fish is facultatively catadromous, meaning it spends most of its life in freshwater rivers, streams, lakes, and estuaries, but migrates to the ocean to spawn. They are primarily bottom dwellers, preferring muddy or silty substrates where they can hide during the day.

Distribution

Found along the entire eastern seaboard of North America, from Greenland to South America, they inhabit virtually every freshwater system that connects to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as coastal marine and estuarine environments.

Behaviour

American Eels are primarily nocturnal predators and scavengers, using their keen sense of smell to locate a wide variety of food, including insects, crustaceans, small fish, and carrion. They undertake an epic spawning migration to the Sargasso Sea as 'silver eels,' a journey that requires significant physiological changes. During colder months, they often burrow into mud or soft substrate, becoming less active.

Edibility

★★★★★

While sometimes overlooked by anglers, American Eels are highly prized in many parts of the world for their rich, fatty, and flavorful meat. They are excellent smoked, grilled, or fried, offering a unique taste often compared to rich whitefish.

Lure suggestion

Targeting eels is best done at night using simple bottom rigs. Effective baits include earthworms, cut bait (like pieces of bunker or mackerel), shrimp, and squid. Use a strong, circle hook (size 1/0 to 3/0) to ensure a good hookset and minimize harm if releasing. Be prepared for a strong, slimy fight; heavy monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders are recommended to prevent bite-offs and abrasion.