Where are the eels?

[ivanputski]

Anyone else find empty tanks at their local shop? Those that have them are gouging. (2.75 + per eel) Bad sign...

[DZ]

I'm hearing its the warm water that has caused severe potting shortages. But it might be related to this:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 9, 2012
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 703.842.0740


ASMFC American Eel Board Initiates Development of Draft Addendum III to Improve Conservation and Protection of the Stock


Alexandria, VA –The Commission’s American Eel Management Board has initiated the development of Draft Addendum III with the goal of reducing mortality and increasing the conservation of American eel stocks across all life stages. The 2012 benchmark stock assessment found the American eel population in U.S. waters is depleted. The stock is at or near historically low levels, due to a combination of including historical overfishing, habitat loss, food web alterations, predation, turbine mortality, environmental changes, toxins and contaminants, and disease.

The Draft Addendum will include a range of options suggested by the American Eel Technical Committee, including possible moratoria on glass (elver) and silver eel harvest, reductions in glass and yellow eel catch and effort, seasonal closures, and future monitoring requirements. The commercial fishery is currently regulated by a six inch size minimum, with the exception of Maine and South Carolina glass eel fisheries, and the recreational fishery is currently regulated by a 50 fish per day creel limit. States and jurisdictions are required to annually report on commercial harvest and monitor juvenile abundance. The Draft Addendum will be developed for preliminary review by the American Eel Management Board in October.

For more information, please contact Kate Taylor, Fishery Management Coordinator, at ktaylor@asmfc.org <mailto:ktaylor@asmfc.org> or 703.842.0740.

DZ

[Fly Rod]

2 bucks for large where I get them

[Nebe]

Consider the eel

[numbskull]

[piemma]

I have been hearing this for 2 weeks. My guy in Harmony RI has plenty. Bought a dozen Saturday. $1.85 ea.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by numbskull

[JohnnyD]

Doesn't this happen for a little while almost every year?

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

Doesn't this happen for a little while almost every year?

I've never had any problems getting them or having the price go up until this year. My guy raised the price to 2.50 per as of Monday and didn't have a lot in his tank yesterday. He limited me to a dozen because of the shortage. On the bright side, he lets me pick my own and all of the ones he had left were good size. I also get a discount for paying cash.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by fishbones

I've never had any problems getting them or having the price go up until this year. My guy raised the price to 2.50 per as of Monday and didn't have a lot in his tank yesterday. He limited me to a dozen because of the shortage. On the bright side, he lets me pick my own and all of the ones he had left were good size. I also get a discount for paying cash.

Damn, had no idea. I know last year and the year before it was almost impossible to get eels around the canal or on most of the cape for a couple weeks.

[fatcow]

They come from Canada. The last shipment of 2000 lbs died on the way to be delivered by the heat. They will be here thursday night.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[the point]

I pay 12 bucks a pound at one place 1.50 a peice at the other. but yea there has been a shortage lately, one place was out and the other is running out FAST!! Thank god I got some for tomorrow

[Pete_G]

I was told the exceptional heat kept the eels deep and makes potting them difficult.

We haven't always carried eels but I don't remember anything close to this level of a drought during that time.

[snake slinger]

Pete when do you think you will get some in?

[Pete_G]

Today will be our first chance. Heard Sam's had got a small delivery but it was almost already gone so call ahead.

[zimmy]

Asmfc has dropped the ball on eels. They will be gone before anything is done about it.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[stripermaineiac]

All that are up here are goin to the food market. Saco Bay has had none for over a week an can't get any. even the local trappers are out. MMMMM an the elver greed had nothing to do with it LOL right.

[Night Shift]

They're still around. On my last set, my large trap was stuffed. I found that a half a tote full of eels is impossible to sort. I had to dump 2/3rds of them back into the trap in order to do the job properly. The final take filled a 5 gallon bucket.

However, that is the extreme. If you only need a few, use a small minnow trap, they work just as well. I use two of them for all of my prospecting. The big trap goes in more reliable spots. On some nights, a small trap in a new spot will out fish the large one set on a "sure thing"

If your willing to put forth the effort, learn a little about their habbits, and do a little trapping, you might be suprised what you find.


This is from earlier in the season

[niko]

i caught a big one the other night at the wharf on the vinyard. a new yorker fishing next to me said a bait shop down there would charge $5 a pop for big ones

[timmah]

They definitely don't like the warm water, I've seed 5 like this in the past 4 days upside down in the river. Also have seen a few coming up to the top to breath.

[piemma]

My guy has lots of eels. PM me and I'll give you his number

[bassballer]

No eels is killing me. Couldnt get any last night and it ruined my night. marked a ton fish and could get anything to whack a jig or tube. I realized last night im to dependant on eels and my other tactics suck.

[piemma]

If you don't mind the drive, my guy in Harmony RI (Gloucester, RI) has lots. He said Tom's bait had plenty when he got his delivery last week.

[Rockfish9]

Fall eel migration has already started....we've been trapping plenty all summer... mostly 12-24 per set... but last week we stuffed pots( the way we did in June)..work the edges/drop offs of the channnels in rivers ... slack water is the best time to trap... if the location is good.. you can stuff a comercial pot in an hour.... I put about 5lbs of frozen herring in each pot( and a good set will have no bait left)...fish bait works well as long as you tend the trap.. do NOT set during the day.. or crabs and sand fleas will consume your bait.. set at dusk/dark near the time of slack.. I haven't bought an eel in over 10 years.. trapping is not what it was in the 80's but with a little study and planning you can catch enough for your own use... and then some.