Fish, freshwater eel family
European eel
- Maximum length
- 133cm
- Maximum weight
- 6,6kg
- Best water temperature
- 10–22 °C
- Water today (4.0 °C)
- Tolerates it, but slowed down
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 20
About the species European eel
How to recognise it
Snake-like body covered in mucus, one long fin around the tail, no pelvic fins.
Where it lives
Rivers and reservoirs. It breeds in the Sargasso Sea, so it reaches us only through stocking of juveniles.
What it feeds on
Fish, invertebrates and their eggs.
Spawning
It goes to the sea (the Sargasso Sea) to spawn, where it dies after spawning.
It is a critically endangered species. It is active mainly at night.
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about European eel. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.
Minimum size
§ 12 of the Decree50 cm
below the size limit: return it to the waterfrom the size limit: you may keep it
You must not keep a fish shorter than 50 cm. The total length is measured from the front of the head to the end of the longest ray of the tail fin (§ 12, para. 4). The district user may raise the size; the one in the permit and the fishing regulations applies.
Daily limit
§ 14 of the Decree- 2ksGreen groupeel, carp, burbot, zander, pike, tench, barbel, lake brown trout, brown trout, grayling (combined)
The limit applies per day, also when fishing in several districts. The district user may set a lower limit in the permit, in which case the stricter one applies.
Summary of Act no. 216/2018 Coll. and Decree no. 381/2018 Coll. (as of 6 Nov 2026). It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters. The permit and the fishing regulations of the district are binding. The fishing law, rule by rule.
Water temperature and requirements
At what temperature the species is active and how well today's water suits it.
Tolerates it, but slowed downTypical water in Slovakia is 4.0 °C today. The species tolerates this temperature (2 to 28 °C), but the water is colder than the ideal 10 to 22 °C. Fish tend to be slower and pickier.
- tolerates 2 to 28 °C
- best 10 to 22 °C
- typical water today 4.0 °C
- Length
- up to 133 cm
- Weight
- up to 6.6 kg
- Oxygen
- Tolerates low oxygen
- Position in the food chain
- 3,5omnivore and small animals
The values are indicative and come from the FishBase database. In a particular water, fish behave according to the weather, air pressure, oxygen and food.
Where it was recorded
Fishing districts around which a record of this species exists (GBIF).
- Čierna voda č. 1
- OR Melečka č. 1
- OR Melečka č. 2
- Štrkovisko Zelená voda 2
- OR Pasienok
- Štrkovisko Roličky
- Štrkovisko Šoporňa
- Štrkovisko Ľadová voda – Dunajek
- Štrkovisko Ivanka pri Dunaji
- Štrkovisko Zelená voda 1
- Malý Dunaj č. 6
- Štrkovisko Vajnory 1
- Štrkovisko Vajnory 2
- Hron č. 3
- Klátovské rameno č. 2
- Malý Dunaj č. 3
- Štrkovisko Jahodná č. 1
- Štrkovisko Jahodná č. 2
- Štrkovisko Jahodná č. 3
- Štrkovisko Jahodná č. 4
20 fishing districts in total. Show on map
Similar species
Photo credits
- European eel: Photo: vranken martin, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Burbot: Photo: Harka, Akos, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Minimum sizes, protection periods and permitted fishing methods are set by the fishing regulations and the conditions of the specific fishing district. Check them before you fish.