Public comment

[Mr. Sandman]

From what I have read, there are a lot of assumptions about where they spawn. They are assuming they return to the sargosso sea because they saw some elvers out there and the only explanation on how they got there is that they must be spawing there.

As far as I know eels have never been seen spawning.

Frankly it is hard for me to belive that A) eels swim all the way back to the SS and actually make it alive and B) the elvers drift from the SS along and are distributed along the coast without being consumed. The story is hard for me to accept esp since no one has witnessed spawing in the SS. Is it possible? Sure, I would never believe a herring makes a run back to its birthplace either but they in fact do. But what makes it hard for me to believe is that most baitfish spawn in shallow waters (ponds, bays etc) not open ocean. When was the last time you saw a school of elvers offshore swimming for beach? You find them in streams and ponds.

I think given the right conditions (which I probably will never get in my pond) they should spawn. My hope is that eventually, over time they will get horny enough and give it a go.

[cheferson]

I saw elvers this past spring coming in from the beach in a couple areas.

[MakoMike]

John,
I belive that it is speeled catandromus. FWIW, I've been doing a lot of research on eels for four feature articles that I'm working on. Belive it or not, it is currently belived that the largest single source of eel mortality is hydroelectric dams. Eels migrate downstream in the lower portions of the water column, where they get sucked into turbines and chopped to pieces. The second largest source of eels mortality is commercial fishing. there is virtually no recreational fishing for eels. To learn more watch for the upcoming issues of On The Water, Nor'east saltwater, Striped Bass and Sportfishing.

Feel free to ask questions, I'll answer what I can. But there is an awful lots of information that is not known about both Americcan and european eels. BTW they all spawn in the Saragasso sea, even though they are different species and follow different migration routes

[snake slinger]

iam not to fussy about where i spawn.

[Nebe]

Makomike, have you read the book 'Consider the Eel'????? lots of eel info in there i hear. havnet read it myself, but its on the winter 'to read' list.

[cheferson]

WHos the author??

[Nebe]

beats me.. search google or maybe amazon.com

im in the middle of 'Double Whammy' by Carl Hiassen.... best fishing book i have ever read. a largemouth bass/murder mystery

[STREETFIGHT]

Originally Posted by cheferson

WHos the author??

Richard schweid-
its a great book

[Squibby17]

I fresh water fish a few times a year. I have caught eels in south shore ponds, lakes in Maine and one that was at least 3 feet long up at Lake Champlain.

So are these eels different than the ones dicussed.

If not how do they end up in land locked spot?

[baldwin]

For the record:
The correct spelling is catadromous. Fish that grow to adulthood in fresh water, breed in salt. Yes, they can make it to the Sargasso. Atlantic salmon go from CT and other places in New England to the Labrador Strait off Greenland to grow out, return here to spawn (those very few that now make it). Used to be 40,000 or so in CT River system alone, before the dams. Stripers go from Maine (maybe some from Nova Scotia) to the Chesapeake. Herring from Bay of Fundy to Carolinas and Florida. Why not?
American eels and European eels are thought to breed in the Sargasso. They float along the Gulf Stream as larvae. American eels develop faster, move inland to fresh water. Europeans develop more slowly, travel farther before moving inland in Europe.
Eels can be found in inland ponds, they can travel short distances over wet grass between bodies of water. They can also get around dams this way.
Aquacultured eels are only profitable if sale prices are high. You have to be able to pay for your aquaculture systems, electricity, labor, feed, antibiotics,... Probably not going to profit much at the $1 you can get for them in bait shops. The Japanese raise them for food, get $$$ per pound. I don't want to shuck out that much for bait, either do you.
Correct that eels won't breed in Fresh water.
grb