World's largest eel washes up on Sandbanks beach

A dead eel, believed to be a European conger, was spotted on the sand near the Haven Hotel by resident Charlotte St. Clair while out on a walk in Sandbanks on Friday, January 12.

Widely considered the biggest eel in the world, the European conger is native to the British Isles, particularly on the west coast as well as other parts of western Europe. 

British Sea Fishing describes the smooth-skinned, scaleless eel as being a “highly-rated catch” by sea anglers due to the fight it can put up when on the end of a rod. 

Charlotte with the eel (Image: Charlotte St Clair)

According to the Marine Life Information Network, European congers can grow to 2.75 metres in length but are more commonly seen at around two metres long. 

The association added: “Many congers are found down to depths of 500 metres but descend to as deep as 4,000 metres to spawn. 

“Conger eels become more active at night when they leave their resting places to hunt.” 

A species of least concern on the threatened species list, they usually feed on dead, rotten fish. 

Typically, freshwater eels are more often spotted along the shores of Dorset. These are much smaller in length (around one metre) and can live up to 70 years. 

Dorset Wildlife Trust says: “Eels are able to survive out of water for quite a long time and may crawl through wet grass to reach water.” 

The trust and the Marine Conservation Society has been contacted for more details on the find.