The other day I hands my lunch box eel transporter to the kid at the shop, he goes out back and loads up some eels,,, I get to fishing and almost jumped out of the boat,,,, monsters
So how big is too big do ya's think?

The other day I hands my lunch box eel transporter to the kid at the shop, he goes out back and loads up some eels,,, I get to fishing and almost jumped out of the boat,,,, monsters
So how big is too big do ya's think?

it's a loaded question.... a lot of factors need to be determined....

a shoe string eel in a mixed school of large, mediums and small will most likely catch the little guy's.. big bait is the order here... as big as your tackle can handle.. I draw the line at 2' ...... take that same shoe string on a night when the water is full of fire and it will out perform the big "snake" 10:1...

heavy water and fast currents require a bigger stronger bait... again tailor it to your tackle...

Trolling with an electric motor requires smaller eels...no larger than 12"...lest they cause and unnatural appearance while in tow ....

casting into the wind... the little guy's just don't go far( not that you always need the distance)... larger specimens are needed. If your tackle can handle it... go with a anaconda sized serpent...

Each extreme in the spectrum has their own problems...

Large eels require large hooks.. heavy leaders a rod with a lot of back bone...( not to mention a strong grip)

little eels are not with out their own set of issues... first and foremost.. they LOVE to tie knots... they are good at it.. quick too.. so keep an eye on your leader.... they also are more fragile... it's hard to catch more than one fish with a little guy.. big ones can catch several.. then be skinned to make skin rigs, or plugs..

I trap and keep my own eels and have done so for over 40 years.. I keep a variety because no one size is perfect for every condition...

My largest( officially weighed) bass to date (61lbs) took a tiny shoe string eel on a night as dark as an editors heart.. with enough fire in the water to light my way home... last Labor day I took another outsized specimen on a eel as thick around as my arm... the tide was running hard and the bait needed to hit the back side of the bar quickly as a 5 knot current pushed the boat past.. a shoe string wouldn't have done the job.. point is.. you need variety... so I like anything between 10" and 24"...and on a given night I may need a combination of all of them...selecting one size only puts you at a severe disadvantage...

I don't fish eels a lot. Never have. But with one post, Joe has taught me more about the how, when, what sizes, and why, than I knew before. His comments, though fewer in number these days, are always well thought out observations from years of first hand experience, backed up with situations the reader can learn from and understand. Never skewed with a personal preconceived opinion. Probably one of the top educational posts I have read on the board. Thanks, Joe.

I don't fish eels a lot. Never have. But with one post, Joe has taught me more about the how, when, what sizes, and why, than I knew before. His comments, though fewer in number these days, are always well thought out observations from years of first hand experience, backed up with situations the reader can learn from and understand. Never skewed with a personal preconceived opinion. Probably one of the top educational posts I have read on the board. Thanks, Joe.

you can say that again! :-)

Thank you Joe for taking the time to share some of your knowledge,,, I'll see what happens this evening if the weather cooperates ... :fishin:

sorry, I have comment on Joe's post as well - that should be stickied or something as all the advice you will ever need on eel size!

sorry, I have comment on Joe's post as well - that should be stickied or something as all the advice you will ever need on eel size!


Yup, done
great informative post

Bigger eels from the beach cast farther . boat eels with an egg or rubber core sinker size of the eel won’t matter. They eat them head first anyway
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