Eel Size

[Monty]

What size eels do you like to fish?
Also what is the longest eel you will fish?

[finchaser]

8 to 10 inch don't like to exceed 12

[BassBuddah]

I agree with finchaser. Tossing in the surf 9-12 inches. tossing in an inlet I might go a little bigger, up to 14 or so depending on the size of the fish around.

[CharlieTuna]

If you were fishing in a boat you can throw bigger ones, but I do agree with the 8-12" sizes in the surf. They are a lot easier to handle and toss out.

[vpass]

What Fin Said. 8 to 12 inches. After they die I rig them and Freeze them. The eels last many seasons of re-use. It has been awhile since I fished them. Looking foward to fishing this upcoming season.

[surfstix1963]

I'll agree with the rest of you on size but I like darker color eels over the lighter ones for inlets, I don't fish them off the beach unless their are rockpiles around.

[Rip-Plugger]

I have not done it in a great while but, I think of fishing a bit differently from most guys.I want an eel that's 12-15 inches. The eels I see in the water are the size I like to fish with,I have never seen an eel free in the water that was 8-10 inches long.I want an eel that will make lots of sound waves in the water and one that is easy to see/sense,a small eel can be missed easy and a larger one will get some attention.thats just my take on it.even when I [lived] at snug harbor marina,any eel less that a foot were not taken along,they had to be 12 inches or more.some were even 18 inches. R-P

[buckethead]

Rip plugger it must be different conditions where you fish. If I slung an 18 inch eel for a few hours my shoulder would kill me. Maybe I am just getting old.

[Rip-Plugger]

Rip plugger it must be different conditions where you fish. If I slung an 18 inch eel for a few hours my shoulder would kill me. Maybe I am just getting old.
we were drifting the north rip off block,not casting them.for that I would use a bit smaller like 12-14 inch max.besides that I use the tennis ball method so,it does most of the work not my shoulder. R-P