While fishing from a high-up pier a coupla days ago at first light I noticed an eel about 12-14" long swimming at the surface with its head partially outta the water. It would occasionally sink down a bit and then resurface and do the top-water snake dance again. I witnessed three or four school-sized bass come up for a look-see at it but they did not consume it. Eventually it was spotted by a a gull who scooped it up and flew away with it hanging outta its mouth.
Do ya think this was a once-pummeled eel that somehow got away from a bass or perhaps a discarded eel from a fishermans stash? I was with a coupla other guys who were chunking...

did it have a long skinny nose? could have been a needlefish. i witnessed a school of them a few weeks back in RI.

http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/lineart/atlantic%20needlefish.jpg

Maybe it was a snake?

Nah, it was an eel. I tried hopelessly to snag it. If I only had a dip-net with a 12 ft handle....

Believe it or not American Eels have a limited capacity to take oxygen from the air for short periods as in when they ascend streams by slithering over rocks and wet grass. In the elver stage they do this by balling up with hundreds of others and literally roll up the rocks in a living twisting mass. Ever wonder how eels stay alive so long in just wet weed in your eel bucket?:D

they breath thru their skin and a gill .

Probably was an eel... They can live pretty good in the air as long as they remain moist. Good sens for the water too :hihi: - drop one on the gorund 100 feet from shore and watch it soon nose and slither towards the water...

Eels like those colder northern waters, I've seen 3' long eels in the Saco river. Saw one fellow fighting one thinking it was a decent bass.

If it was a good size eel, the schoolies can't take it down but night still take shots at it practicing for one they are bigger. Think Mutual of Omaha when the tiger cubs play fight and "train" for when they get bigger and need to fight on their own

Had a 3ft eel almost swim through my legs while fishing in the Canal a few years ago. I normally use giant eels but this was a bit ridiculus. Would not of even saw it but I was done fishing and put my light on to exit the water.

I caught a fat 3 foot eel on a herrin chunk . I thought it was a fluke at first . I was able to photo it . Could not keep it captive, to friggin strong and slippery.