Conger Eel
Eel
A huge, powerful, grey-brown eel with a thick, muscular body, small eyes and a wide mouth full of blunt, crushing teeth. The UK's largest eel species by far, with confirmed shore catches well over 40kg.
Facts
- Lives in wrecks, reefs, harbour walls and rock crevices by day, emerging to hunt at night.
- Capable of a genuinely powerful bite and known for coiling around anything nearby when hooked — handle with real care.
- Some anglers use the older regional term 'strap conger' for smaller, younger fish.
UK fishing rules
No statutory UK recreational size or bag limit currently applies, though many anglers voluntarily release larger, breeding-age fish given how slow conger grow.
Where to catch Conger Eel (33 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberaeron | Wales | May–Oct | Squid or fish bait fished after dark from the rock ledges just north of the harbour. |
| Anstruther Harbour | Scotland | Nov–Feb | Big fish bait fished hard on the bottom in milder winters |
| Ardglass (Golf Course Rocks) | N. Ireland | Summer, after dark | Big baits on rotten-bottom rigs, expect heavy tackle losses |
| Ardrossan Harbour | Scotland | Jun–Oct | Big baits (whole fish/squid) fished hard on the bottom after dark on rougher marks nearby. |
| Bognor Regis Pier | South East | Jun-Oct | Large fish baits after dark, up to 30lb taken here |
| Bossiney Haven | South West | Sep–Feb | Mackerel flapper or squid bait fished hard on the bottom in the deeper gullies after dark. |
| Brixham Breakwater | South West | Summer nights | Ledgered fish bait after dark among the rocks at the base |
| Caernarfon | Wales | May–Oct | heavy tackle and fish bait fished after dark around the walls |
| Cardiff Bay Barrage | Wales | Jun–Sep | fish bait after dark for conger, float-fished bread for mullet |
| Donaghadee Harbour | N. Ireland | Summer nights | Big mackerel or squid baits |
| Exmouth Beach & Exe Estuary Mouth | South West | Jun–Oct | Bigger fish baits fished after dark around Exmouth Docks/harbour structures for occasional conger and gurnard. |
| Fishguard | Wales | May–Oct | heavy tackle and fish bait fished after dark around the breakwater |
| Gairloch Harbour | Scotland | Summer nights | Strong bait tackle fished after dark close to harbour structure |
| Hartland Quay | South West | Jun–Oct | Whole mackerel or squid fished hard on the bottom after dark in the deeper gullies. |
| Holyhead Breakwater | Wales | May–Oct, best after dark | Bottom-fished mackerel flapper or squid over rough ground on heavy tackle at night. |
| Ilfracombe Pier | South West | Jun–Oct | Fish bait fished hard on the bottom after dark around the pier steps. |
| Llandudno Pier | Wales | Jun–Oct, night (historic) | Bait fished after dark towards rougher ground near the Great Orme end. |
| Milford Haven | Wales | May–Oct | fish bait after dark around the quays and sea walls |
| Nell's Point (Barry Island) | Wales | Jun–Oct | Heavy gear with a whole mackerel or squid bait fished close to the rocks after dark |
| New Quay | Wales | Jul–Oct | squid or fish bait fished after dark off the harbour wall |
| Penarth Pier | Wales | May–Sep, at night | Bait fished after dark with mackerel flapper around the pier legs (outside the Jun–Aug closure). |
| Pevensey Bay | South East | May-Oct | Large fish or squid bait on a pulley pennel, best after dark |
| Porthcawl Breakwater | Wales | Jun–Oct | Heavy paternoster with a fresh mackerel or squid bait fished hard up against the rocks after dark |
| Portpatrick | Scotland | Jun–Oct, mainly after dark | Heavy tackle bait fished over rough harbour-mouth ground after dark. |
| Pwllheli | Wales | Jun–Sep | heavy tackle and fish bait after dark in the harbour channel, fish to 5ft reported |
| Rye Harbour | South East | May-Oct | Large fish baits after dark |
| Saunton Sands | South West | Jun–Oct, at night | Heavy bait fished on the bottom over any broken ground for these bigger species. |
| Shoreham Harbour Arms (East & West Arm) | South East | Late summer-winter | Large fish baits after dark |
| Stranraer Harbour, Loch Ryan | Scotland | Jun–Oct | Large baits fished hard on the bottom after dark on rougher ground round the loch. |
| Tenby Harbour | Wales | Nov–Feb | Fish or squid bait on a simple running leger cast from the wall after dark on bigger winter tides. |
| Trevose Head | South West | May–Oct | Bold fish/squid bait fished hard on the bottom after dark from the ledges. |
| Warrenpoint Front Shore | N. Ireland | Summer, slack tide | Fished around the harbour entrance point when the tide isn't pulling hard |
| Worthing Pier | South East | Jun-Oct | Large fish baits after dark, fish to 30lb landed |