Unhooking an Eel

So you've landed an Eel, and have no clue how to unhook it - don't panic  Fishing Fools have had much luck following the steps below, which seem to cause the least distress to both the landee and Eel, and allow it to be returned to the waters safely.

Once the eel has been landed, give yourself a few moments to compose yourself and get the forceps, weigh sling and scales ready. Place the eel, still in the landing net, on the unhooking mat and kneel over it. Give the fish a minute or two to calm down before attempting to unhook it. After this time has elapsed, turn the eel over onto its back, and stroke the underside of the fish in a calming motion. This will help relax the fish and make the hook removal an easier event. The stroking of the fish seems to help relax it and the removal of the hook with a pair of forceps is then an easy procedure.

Should it have swallowed the hook, cut the wire trace as close as possible to its mouth. Once the hook has be removed, turn the eel back the correct way up. Prolonged time spent on its back will cause it to die, so be careful! If the capture has taken place during darkness and if it is to be weighed and photographed, use a soft carp weigh sling and zip sack to keep the eel in. Photographing them is like the unhooking, though the fish can be more lively after having a few minutes rest in the carp sack. Talk to the fish, stroke it, lay it on its back, (all rather sexy I think!) and the fish will behave for the camera. Once the photo shoot is over, the fish can be released to its watery home.

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