nope, canada, where most eels are coming from now , have changed there regulations on size. its making it more difficult to get them. Just get an eel pot and pot your own
From what I have heard if anything is going to happen, its at least two years away, so you have a couple of seasons left to get a 50 on the eel.Once it does happen (if it does) just toss a pot out and get your own for fishing, I wouldent worry about the eel police finding you at 2am on some remote rock.If eels are "endagered" its because of the demand from other countries that consume them for food, not from bass fisherman.