Longfin eels are big, slippery freshwater predators found right up and down eastern Australia. They are not everyone’s main target, but they pull hard, hit a bait with confidence, and turn up in places where a lot of anglers least expect them.
In Australia you’ll find them mostly in rivers, creeks, lakes, dams and estuaries along the east coast, especially in Queensland and New South Wales. They like slow water, deep holes, snaggy banks, rock walls and areas with plenty of cover. Bigger fish often sit in dirty water or under timber by day and move around more at night.
Longfin eels are opportunistic feeders that eat fish, yabbies, shrimp, frogs, worms and just about any meaty food they can grab. They hunt mostly by smell and movement, working along the bottom and around structure. Once the light drops, they get far more active and confident.
Tide matters most in estuaries, where a bit of run usually helps by moving scent and food, while completely still water can slow them down. Low light is a big trigger, so dusk, night and overcast periods generally fish better than bright middle-of-the-day conditions. Light to moderate wind can help by stirring the edges and dirtying the water a touch, but strong wind can make land-based fishing awkward and messy. Swell is mainly a factor near estuary mouths and lower river systems, where a bit of movement can fire things up, but heavy swell can muddy the water too much and make access unsafe.
A medium to heavy estuary or freshwater outfit with tough leader is the go, especially around timber, rock and bridge pylons. Simple running sinker rigs with fresh fish pieces, prawns, worms, yabbies or chicken gut all work, and circle hooks are handy because eels often load up and move off. Fish close to snags and be ready to put heat on them early before they wrap you up.
Longfin eels can travel astonishing distances in their lifetime, moving from inland freshwater all the way out to sea as part of their migration.