All species
UK shore species
Conger eel
Conger conger
Also Conger
PopularNightledger
Habitat
Holes in walls, under piers, deep rock, wreckage. They hunt from cover after dark.
Season
Peak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Also possible: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
A true marine eel of wrecks, rocks, pier piles and harbour walls. They take a fish bait after dark, they pull, and they do not belong on light bass gear.
- A true eel: dorsal, tail and anal continuous
- No pelvic fins
- A dark upper body, pale belly, no chin barbels like a ling
- A broad, powerful head
Harbour ‘straps’ of a few pounds are common. A shore fish of 20 lb+ is a proper conger. They grow far larger on wrecks.
- Colour
- Dark grey-brown above, dirty white below.
- Fins
- Continuous dorsal-tail-anal.
- Mouth
- Large, toothed, no barbels.
Ranked for this species, not as a universal law. Local crab runs and what is actually fresh matter more.
- MackerelA thin strip on a small hook; a side on a Pennel; a whole fish on a running tope rig.Strong target
- SquidA strip on a flapper; a whole small squid or a wrap over fish on a Pennel.Strong target
- CuttlefishThick strips or a whole small cuttle on a strong Pennel.Good target
- HerringA side on a Pennel, bound. Whole on a tope clip.Good target
- SandeelHead-hooked so it swims, or a Pennel through the head and the middle. Bind if you are casting far.Possible target
- Running ledgerThe lead slides on the line so a shy fish does not feel the weight. Simple and sensitive close in.Beginner
- Pennel rigTwo hooks on one bait — one in the head, one in the body. The way to fish a crab, a squid wrap or a big worm.Intermediate
- Pulley rigThe lead hangs on a pulley so a fish pulling up helps break the lead out. A rough-ground friend.Intermediate
Hooks: 6/0–10/0, strong. A wire or very heavy mono trace.