Marbled Eel

Both species known as the marbled eels have broad Indo-Pacific Ocean distributions. The African mottled eel is common along the east African shore but extends far to the east as well. The giant mottled eel is found from the Red Sea south to South Africa and then eastwards past Australia to French Polynesia then north to Japan. They are “demersal” (bottom loving) fish, after the planktonic early phase, and young eels somehow find estuaries and river mouths and can travel large distances upstream. In South Africa giant mottled eels can travel over 2 000 km (1 243 miles) up the Limpopo River during floods and then live in usually land-locked lakes for years. The damming of rivers has reduced eel abundance and distribution and many are now absent from numerous river systems. The best places to catch both species are the large rivers and lakes in which the species is still present. Fishing can be done throughout the year, as these eels are mostly subtropical and nighttime is best for eel fishing.

The name “marbled eel”, or “mottled eel” can refer to two species of the typical eel family, the Anguillidae: the African marbled or mottled eel, Anguilla bengalensis, or the giant marbled eel, Anguilla marmorata. Unlike most other eel species, which are typically uniform in colour and do not grow very large, the giant marbled eels are quite big and striking in appearance. Both species are dark yellowish with brown or grey “mottling” on top, while the underside is much paler with no pattern. The African marbled eel can be distinguished by relatively finer “mottling” down its back. Giant marbled eels have a cylindrical body shape, with small pectoral fins, small eyes and a large mouth with many small teeth on both jaws. The scales are small and embedded in the skin and covered with sticky mucous. The African mottled eel can grow to about 1.5 m. (59 in.) with a mass of around 13 kg. (29 lbs.) while the giant marbled eel can attain 2 m. (78 in.) and 20.5 kg. (45 lbs.). Both species are carnivores, eating a broad variety of organisms, but fish prey predominates. Spawning takes place in deep ocean gullies and eel larvae drift in ocean currents. Sexes are similar-looking but females grow substantially larger than males.