The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of
Fish and Wildlife has certified a new freshwater state record American
eel that was caught from Round Valley Reservoir on June 4. David J.
Payne of Plainfield caught a 6 pound, 13 ounce American eel that weighed
11 ounces more than the previous record taken from Round Valley in 1994.
Payne was on shore casting for trout when he hooked the eel on a live
shiner. Payne claims he saw trout all around and was convinced he had
one until his catch came closer to the surface. His "surprise" measured
41¾ inches in length.
The American eel can be found statewide in rivers, streams, ponds and
reservoirs. American eels possess a slender, muscular, snake-like body
with a small pointed head. The dorsal fin is long, extending more than
half the length of the body. They have short, rounded pectoral fins, but
no pelvic fins. The mouth has numerous small teeth. Male eels seldom
exceed 24 inches in length, but females can reach up to 40 inches.
Adult American eels migrate to the Sargasso Sea, a calm area in the
Atlantic Ocean east of the Bahamas and south of Bermuda, to spawn. The
larvae reside in the upper few hundred feet of ocean for up to a year
and slowly migrate back to the eastern shores of North America. By the
time they reach the estuaries and rivers in March and early April, they
have transformed into small transparent eels (glass eels). As the young
eels develop pigmentation they become known as elvers and will remain in
fresh water until sexually mature. When ready to reproduce, they migrate
back to the Sargasso Sea late in the fall. Prior to this migration, they
sport a silvery color. Once spawning occurs, they die.
Adult eels primarily eat fish, but will feed upon anything they find.
In lakes and reservoirs, they reside in shallow coves with muddy
bottoms. Eels are most active at night and spend the winter months
buried in the mud. In streams and rivers, they can be found in pool
areas with plenty of cover in the form of fallen trees and branches, as
well as undercut banks where they prefer clear water, but will tolerate
moderately cloudy conditions.
The Division has categories for American eel caught in both freshwater
and saltwater. The current saltwater state record is 9 pounds, 13 ounces
caught in 1988 off Atlantic City.
The Record Fish Program recognizes the largest species of fish caught
in the state. It revolves around a specific list of eligible freshwater
and saltwater species, and is based on weight alone; there are no line
classes. Scale certification documentation, including the Certificate of
Inspection/Test Report and Registration Certificate issued by the New
Jersey Office of Weights and Measures, as well as a weighmaster's
signature are necessary. Other rules apply.
For more information or to request an application, call 609-633-7768.
Visit the Division's Web site at
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/recfish.htm
for a complete list of state record fish.
To read the web version of this information, click on the following
link:
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2005/receel05.htm
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