Fish

Conger eel

Congrio

Conger conger

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

10–50 lb.

Depth

10–1,500 ft.

Best time

Night from shore; any time on wrecks.

Found in

9 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A huge, thick, scaleless eel, gray-black to brown above and pale below, with a big head, thick lips, a mouth full of small sharp teeth, and a dorsal fin that starts just behind the pectoral fins (morays have no pectoral fins).
Typical size: 10–50 lb.
Maximum size: Over 9 ft and over 130 lb.
Diet: Fish, octopus, cuttlefish, squid and crabs.
Behavior: A night hunter that lives in holes in wrecks, harbor walls and rocks; it spawns once, far out in the deep Atlantic, and dies.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from United Kingdom & Ireland, France, Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries), Italy & Malta, Greece & the Adriatic, Turkey, Cyprus & the Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea & Caspian, Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) and Morocco & West Africa. Rocky coasts, harbors, breakwaters and wrecks from Norway and Iceland to Senegal and through the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Habitat: Rocky coasts, harbors, breakwaters and wrecks from Norway and Iceland to Senegal and through the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Depth: 10–1,500 ft.
Fishing depth: On the bottom at the mouth of its hole.
Best season: Summer and autumn inshore; all year on deep wrecks.
Best time: Night from shore; any time on wrecks.
Best tides: Neap tides and slack water.
Best weather / conditions: Calm, warm nights.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Whole mackerel, mackerel flapper, squid and cuttlefish.
Best artificial lures: Rarely used.
Tackle setup: 30–50 lb class boat rod, or a heavy beach rod from harbor walls.
Hook size: 6/0–10/0 strong hooks.
Line: 50–80 lb braid or mono.
Leader: 150–250 lb mono or light wire.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Rig Weight Hooks Bait

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky coasts, harbors, breakwaters and wrecks from Norway and Iceland to Senegal and through the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Rig up: 30–50 lb class boat rod, or a heavy beach rod from harbor walls. 150–250 lb mono or light wire.
Pick your bait: Whole mackerel, mackerel flapper, squid and cuttlefish. Lures: Rarely used.
Fish it: Put a big fresh fish bait on the bottom next to rocks or a wreck. When the bite comes, give it a few seconds, then lift hard and keep winding — never let a conger get its tail around something.
Time it: Night from shore; any time on wrecks. Neap tides and slack water.

Fishing techniques: Put a big fresh fish bait on the bottom next to rocks or a wreck. When the bite comes, give it a few seconds, then lift hard and keep winding — never let a conger get its tail around something.
BigJoe's tip: Fresh bait is everything: conger smell oily fresh mackerel from far away.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Bony, but popular in Spanish and Portuguese stews, soups and fried in steaks.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: A powerful bite that can badly hurt your hand, even after the fish seems dead. Never put your hands near its mouth; cut the trace if you can't unhook it safely.
Regulations: Few rules for anglers in most countries; many UK anglers release all conger. Every country sets its own rules: sea fishing licenses or registration in some countries, a national or regional license plus a local permit for fresh water, and minimum sizes everywhere. Check before you fish.
Conservation: Big conger are long-lived and spawn only once. Release the big ones.

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Sources & photo credits