Fisherman reels in monster eel
Anglers have caught a massive conger eel while fishing off the coast of Devon in the United Kingdom.
The huge sea creature, which was around two-metres long and weighed 72.5 kilograms, was accidentally caught in the nets of the trawler Hope.
It was proudly displayed on social media before being sold at auction.
"Sadly it was never measured before it went to auction but the fisherman who caught it estimated it was 'about 10 feet in length,” a spokeswoman for Plymouth Fisheries told Sky News.
“Possibly the perspective of the hanging photograph does make it look longer, it looks shorter in other photos and eels stretch out when hung."
A fisheries expert said the catch was very unusual.
"These large eels are generally found hiding in the many wrecks around the South West, or on reefs and rocky ground” Pete Bormley told Sky News.
"But they do venture out to open ground in search of food, usually during neap tides or slack water.
"Despite their size and power, they are not very strong swimmers."
The catch narrowly missed the British record.
It sold for around $80 per kilogram at auction.
Pic credit: London International Club of Spearfishing
