Conger Eel

Deep in the dark of every south-coast wreck lives a conger, and the big ones have been there longer than the paint on the boat. Steel-grey, thick as a drainpipe and disinclined to cooperate, the conger eel is Britain's heavyweight bottom fish - a genuine 100 lb-class animal within sight of land.

Conger fishing is attritional. A whole mackerel flapper goes down on wire or heavy mono, the bite is a slow, heavy lean, and then it is simply you against an eel backing into its hole. Lift, gain, hold - lose concentration and the fish wins, every time.

Rough-ground shore marks produce straps (smaller eels) to anyone with patience and a strong arm, but the serious fish are a boat job over deep structure. Almost all congers are released at the side of the boat these days - gaffing one aboard helps nobody, least of all the deckhand.