Conger Eel
By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026
The heaviest conger eel caught on rod and line in Britain weighed 133lb 4oz (60.442kg). It came off a wreck near Berry Head, Devon, in 1995, and it still stands as the British boat record. Most shore-caught conger weigh a small fraction of that.
The conger eel (Conger conger) is a large marine eel of rocky ground, harbour walls and wrecks, found mainly off the south and west coasts of Britain and around Ireland. It shelters in holes and crevices by day and hunts at night, so shore anglers fish for it after dark and boat anglers target it over wrecks.
This guide covers identification, where and when to fish, the British records, size rules, tackle and bait, and safe release.
How to Identify a Conger Eel (and How It Lives)
Most identification guides lean on the jaw to separate conger from common eel, and they disagree on which way round it goes. The dorsal fin is a far more reliable feature.
- Dorsal fin: on a conger it starts just behind the pectoral fin. On a common (silver) eel it begins much further back along the body.
- Skin and colour: a conger is scaleless, grey to almost black on the back, with a paler belly.
- Where you caught it: conger are marine fish. The common eel also lives in rivers and lakes, so an eel from fresh water is not a conger.
Still unsure? The guide to identifying UK fish sets the features out side by side.
Size settles it once they grow. According to MarLIN, the Marine Life Information Network, conger reach about 2.75m, more commonly around 2m, and live down to roughly 500m. The big fish are females. Males are thought to top out at around 35lb (15.9kg), so a genuinely heavy eel is almost always a female.
The life cycle explains why those females matter. Conger mature at roughly 5 to 15 years old, then migrate to the mid-Atlantic to spawn once and die. Any large female you land has not yet spawned, which is a plain reason to put her back.
Where and When to Catch Conger in the UK
East coast anglers who blank on conger are often fishing the wrong coast rather than the wrong bait. MarLIN records conger mainly along the south and west coasts of England, Wales and Scotland and around all of Ireland, with far fewer on the east coast.
By day they hold up in holes, crevices, breakwaters, reefs and wrecks, and they leave cover at night to feed.
From the shore
Fish heavy rough ground or harbour walls that drop into deep water, after dark. On big spring tides, small conger to about 10lb (4.5kg) are sometimes found tucked under rocks as the tide falls away.
Small immature fish, known as strap conger, often turn up uninvited. They take baits meant for bass, rays and cod over rocky and mixed ground, so expect them on any rough-ground session.
From a boat
Conger can be caught all year. Many specialists favour late summer, though big fish also show around Christmas, when fewer boats are out.
On wrecks, tide state matters more than the month. Experienced wreck anglers generally fish the slack water on neap tides, and two hours either side of high and low water is the window most often quoted. On gentler tides, anchor up-tide of the wreck so the scent trail drifts back to the eels.
If you have no boat, start with a deep-water rock mark or harbour wall on the south or west coast, on a calm night.
Biggest Conger Eel in the UK: Records and Typical Sizes
The biggest conger eel in the UK from the shore weighed barely half the boat record, and that gap shows where the really large eels live.
| Category | Weight | Angler, year, place |
|---|---|---|
| Boat record | 133lb 4oz (60.442kg) | Victor Evans, 1995, wreck off Berry Head, Torquay, Devon |
| Shore record | 68lb 8oz (31.072kg) | M Larkin, 1992, Devil’s Point, Plymouth, Devon |
Both figures come from the British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee sea fish listing for June 2026. The committee also sets a qualifying length for record claims: 200cm for boat-caught conger and 165cm for shore-caught fish. The boat record has stood since 1995 and the shore record since 1992, but records can change, so check the current BRFC list before you quote one.
Those are the extremes. UK shore conger typically weigh 5 to 25lb (2.3 to 11.3kg), with a few each year going over 40lb (18.1kg). Strap conger of a few pounds turn up regularly over rough ground.
| Where you fish | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Shore rock mark or harbour wall | Typically 5 to 25lb, occasionally over 40lb |
| Deep offshore wreck | Where the heaviest fish, including the boat record, come from |
Is There a Minimum Size for Conger? IFCA Rules Explained
There is no single UK-wide minimum size for conger, whatever you may have read. In England, inshore size limits are set by byelaws from each local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA), so the figure depends on where you fish.
North Western IFCA Byelaw 1 sets a minimum conservation reference size of 58cm (580mm) for conger, and it applies to all persons fishing in that district, anglers included. The figure appears on the NWIFCA minimum sizes page and in the NWIFCA MCRS document.
In Cornwall, the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide reports an inshore minimum landing size of 58cm. For any other district, check your local IFCA byelaws before you keep a fish. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own regulators, and their rules differ.
A 36in figure circulates online as the UK minimum. It does not match the IFCA byelaws, so ignore it. The page on sea fish minimum sizes explains how the system works.
Releasing your conger keeps you legal in every district.
Conger Tackle and Bait: Shore Marks vs Wrecks
A 10 to 15lb weak link to the lead is the cheapest rig insurance in conger fishing in the UK, because the ground that holds eels is the ground that eats tackle. Beyond that, the set-up depends on whether you fish a rock mark or a deep wreck.
| Spec | Shore rock mark | Boat wreck |
|---|---|---|
| Rod and line | Heavy beachcaster with strong mono or braid | 30lb class for average eels; 30/50lb class with 50lb+ braid for very big eels |
| Trace | Wire or 150lb+ mono | 100lb wire or heavy mono on a short-range rig |
| Hook | 6/0 to 10/0 | 6/0 or 8/0 |
| Lead link | Rotten bottom on rough ground | 10 to 15lb weak link |
| Bait | Mackerel flappers, heads or fillets, squid, bluey | Mackerel flappers, heads or fillets, squid, bluey |
Figures vary between sources, so treat these as working ranges.
Leave the reel on its ratchet so a taking eel gives an audible warning. Braid gives better feedback in deep water, but Talk Sea Fishing points out that eels feel the extra tension and can spook, so keep a light touch.
Even big conger often pluck at a bait before taking it. Give them time, but not long enough to reach a hole. Then set the hook firmly and keep the eel’s head up and away from the rocks or the wreck.
If a decent fish wedges itself into a crevice, it usually cannot be shifted. Hold steady pressure until it either moves or the line parts.
Pollack often share the same wreck ground, so one trip can cover both.
Best for: shore fishing suits anglers without a boat who accept smaller average fish. Skip if: you would be alone on a rough rock mark at night. Take a friend, or book a wreck trip.
How to Handle and Release a Conger Safely
A big conger at the side of the boat or on a rock ledge is where fish and fingers get hurt.
- Decide early whether to lift it. Unhooking at the side of the boat or in the margins is kindest where you can manage it.
- Wet your hands and keep fingers clear of the mouth.
- Use a long disgorger or long-nosed pliers. If the hook is deep, cut the trace close to the mouth rather than dig for it.
- Support the body. Don’t hang a big eel by its head or tail.
- Return it quickly, head first into the water.
The Cornwall Good Seafood Guide notes that released conger generally survive well, especially when caught on hook and line. It also notes there is no ICES stock assessment for the species, and that Cornish landings fell from about 350 tonnes in 1995 to under 50 tonnes in 2013.
The British Conger Club, formed at Littlehampton in January 1962, encourages catch and release.
Unhook at the side where you can, and get every big female back fast.
For more fish to target from UK shores and boats, browse the UK sea fish species guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest conger eel caught in the UK?
The British boat record is 133lb 4oz (60.442kg), caught by Victor Evans in 1995 on a wreck off Berry Head, Devon. The shore record is 68lb 8oz (31.072kg), caught by M Larkin at Devil's Point, Plymouth, in 1992. Both figures are from the BRFC.
Is conger eel good to eat?
Conger is rarely eaten in the UK. The Cornwall Good Seafood Guide rates it 5 out of 5 on its scale, which means avoid, so most anglers release theirs.
Can you catch conger eel from the shore?
Yes. Fish rough ground and harbour walls next to deep water after dark, mostly on the south and west coasts. Shore fish typically weigh 5 to 25lb (2.3 to 11.3kg), with a few each year going over 40lb.
Do conger eels bite humans?
Conger have powerful jaws and will bite when handled, so keep your fingers clear and use a long disgorger or pliers. Support the body, unhook quickly and return the fish head first.