Anguilla rostrata
American eel are a remarkable, catadromous fish — they live in freshwater and migrate to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. They're found in Maritime rivers and lakes, where they're caught as bycatch or targe...
📷 Photo: Wikimedia Commons / USFWS
American eel are a remarkable, catadromous fish — they live in freshwater and migrate to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. They're found in Maritime rivers and lakes, where they're caught as bycatch or targeted for food. They fight hard and are considered a delicacy when smoked.
Long, snake-like body. No pelvic fins. Small pectoral fins. Continuous fin from the back around the tail to the belly. Scaleless, slimy skin. Dark brown to olive-green back, pale belly. Small mouth with thick lips.
American eel are catadromous — they live in freshwater rivers, lakes, and streams and migrate to the Sargasso Sea (Atlantic Ocean) to spawn. They're found in Maritime waters — rivers, estuaries, and muddy-bottomed lakes. They're bottom-dwelling and nocturnal.
American Eel can be found across these provinces and territories:
Regulations vary by province and zone — always check the local rules before fishing. Browse detailed guides: New Brunswick · Nova Scotia · Prince Edward Island.
Matching your bait to the conditions is one of the biggest factors in catching American Eel. Here's what works when:
| Weather / Condition | Best Bait & Lures | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| 🌙 Night | Nightcrawlers, cut bait (fish parts), chicken liver on the bottom | Eels are nocturnal — bottom fish at night in rivers and estuaries for the best action. |
| 🌊 Muddy / Turbid water | Cut bait with strong scent, nightcrawlers on the bottom | Eels hunt by smell in muddy water — scent-heavy baits on the bottom are key. |
| 🌸 Spring / Summer | Nightcrawlers, cut bait on the bottom in rivers | Eels are most active in warm water — fish muddy river bottoms at night. |
| ☀️ Day | Cut bait fished deep in muddy holes and undercut banks | Eels rest during the day in deep, dark holes — bottom fishing in these areas produces. |
| 🌧️ After rain / Rising water | Cut bait, worms in flooded margins and backwaters | Rising water triggers eel movement — fish newly flooded areas. |
Eels are most active in warm water. Summer (June–September): peak fishing at night in rivers. Fall (October): they begin migrating downstream toward the ocean. Spring/early summer: they move back into freshwater.
Get a 7-day American Eel bite forecast, offline regulations for every province, and AI-powered fishing advice — all in one app. Free for the 2026 season.