Eels...Don't mess with 'em! *Warning Graphic content* - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Willy · 10-03-2010, 12:48 PM

We've all likely pulled eels up in our nets. In a 'yak your net goes in your lap, with an eel or not.

Last night I was on my boat, not my 'yak, and pulled an eel out so big he wouldn't shake out of the net. As thick around as my thigh. The pot also had upwards of 20 bugs in it, so I took my chances and brought them ALL onto the deck of the boat, including the eel.

Like a dummy, when the eel wasn't cooperating I tried the behind the head grab, like a snake to toss him into my fishing net to get him over.

Caveat...I'm a country boy, with lots of experience handling snakes and what ever other kind of animal you can think of. So I wasn't flying totally blind.

The lesson here: Don't mess with the eels. Let the pot go back over the side, lose the bugs, whatever. This almost took my whole thumb off, his bite easily into the bone. Imagine what they can do to your femoral artery or your family jewels when there is an eel in your lap.

Just be careful out there!!!!

Ohana · 10-03-2010, 12:56 PM

We used to hook them, (moray eels) accidentally while fishing when I was in high school living in Hawaii. They made a mess of your line and forget about getting the hooks back. They prey of octopus on the reef and would grab the octopus with their jaws and then tie themselves into a ball to prevent the octopus from getting free, which is what they would do to our fishing line. Some of the big eels can crush bone when they bite, so your comment about not getting bit is a good one.

We also kept two of the Dragon Moray eels in tanks in our house that we caught off the reef and they learned to take food right off the surface of the tank.

Kevin

jorluivil · 10-03-2010, 12:57 PM

OOOOUCH!!!!! How many stitches???

Willy · 10-03-2010, 01:08 PM

A bunch. It's under a bandage right now, but it looked like a baseball before wrapping it up.

Willy

Billy V · 10-03-2010, 01:27 PM

I hope the DR. gave you some strong antibiotics. Eels have nasty bacteria in their mouths.

Rob929 · 10-03-2010, 01:35 PM

Damn Willy!! That's crazy.. I pulled a few eels Fri night.. luckily, there were not any keepers in the nets at the time- otherwise, I would have been tempted to pull the whole load into the yak- eel and all. I saw some nasty teeth on one... wouldn't want to come into contact with them!

WahooUSMA · 10-03-2010, 02:43 PM

Damn, that has GOT to have hurt! You are one lucky dude! Glad your OK - That's about an 8 on the pucker factor!

10-03-2010, 01:27 PM	#5
Billy V Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Ho Posts: 1,382	I hope the DR. gave you some strong antibiotics. Eels have nasty bacteria in their mouths. __________________

10-03-2010, 02:43 PM	#7
WahooUSMA Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 753	Damn, that has GOT to have hurt! You are one lucky dude! Glad your OK - That's about an 8 on the pucker factor! __________________ GO ARMY BEAT NAVY! Bad decisions make great stories! Last edited by WahooUSMA; 10-03-2010 at 04:09 PM.

10-03-2010, 12:56 PM	#2
Ohana Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Coto de Caza, CA Posts: 155	We used to hook them, (moray eels) accidentally while fishing when I was in high school living in Hawaii. They made a mess of your line and forget about getting the hooks back. They prey of octopus on the reef and would grab the octopus with their jaws and then tie themselves into a ball to prevent the octopus from getting free, which is what they would do to our fishing line. Some of the big eels can crush bone when they bite, so your comment about not getting bit is a good one. We also kept two of the Dragon Moray eels in tanks in our house that we caught off the reef and they learned to take food right off the surface of the tank. Kevin

10-03-2010, 12:57 PM	#3
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	OOOOUCH!!!!! How many stitches???

10-03-2010, 01:08 PM	#4
Willy Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Jolla Posts: 189	A bunch. It's under a bandage right now, but it looked like a baseball before wrapping it up. Willy

10-03-2010, 01:35 PM	#6
Rob929 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 134	Damn Willy!! That's crazy.. I pulled a few eels Fri night.. luckily, there were not any keepers in the nets at the time- otherwise, I would have been tempted to pull the whole load into the yak- eel and all. I saw some nasty teeth on one... wouldn't want to come into contact with them!