American Eel
Anguilla rostrata
A long, snake-like fish that is catadromous, meaning it spawns in saltwater but lives most of its life in freshwater. American eels have a complex lifecycle that takes them from the Sargasso Sea to freshwater rivers and back.
American Eel at a glance
- Scientific name
- Anguilla rostrata
- Typical size
- 12-36 inches, 1-5 lbs
- Water
- Brackish
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Mythic
Habitat
Found in rivers, streams, and estuaries throughout the eastern United States. They prefer muddy bottoms and are often caught incidentally by anglers fishing for other species using worms or cut bait. Most active at night and during overcast conditions.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a american eel through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksAmerican Eel questions people ask
American Eel is Anguilla rostrata.
A typical american eel runs 12-36 inches, 1-5 lbs. Cobia records the length and weight of every american eel you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Found in rivers, streams, and estuaries throughout the eastern United States. They prefer muddy bottoms and are often caught incidentally by anglers fishing for other species using worms or cut bait. Most active at night and during overcast conditions. It is a water species, filed under freshwater in the Fishdex.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.