Fish Identification? (Pike Eel)

[Azza_Fishing]

Hi All, 

During the long weekend, me and my family went up to the Hawkesbury River. It was a quiet time, and quite enjoyable. I decided to let out a few lines at night, hoping for a jewie or a decent sized flattie. However, I was rewarded with a strange fish. It looks like a hairtail to me, however some people were saying it is a longfinned eel. Anyone have any suggestions on what it could be. 

 

 

Thanks 

Aaron

 

[dirvin21]

That's a pike eel or slimy biting spawn of satan.... commonly greeted to a boat in my home waters by a bunch of swear words

[frankS]

No photo. But Pike eel are often mistaken for hairtail, so my guess would be one of these. It is beyond me how anyone can mistake a Pike eel for a Hairtail but it happens every year.

Frank

[noelm]

Eels and Hairtail are very different, but as mentioned, picture doesn't work, can't see it.

[slothparade]

Looks like a pike eel, the fin ends a bit before the head also it appears to be a bit more of a sand/ brown colour. Also there are heaps of these in hawksberry 

A hair tail is more silver and the fin stops a bit further close to the head. 

[noelm]

Nothing quite getting an angry one when Flathead fishing, somehow they can "stand up" like a coiled spring and with mouth open ready to bite anything close, they are scary critters, that's for sure.

[wazatherfisherman]

Pike Eel as said above- did you notice the extra row of teeth down the middle of its mouth? We made a rule about them for houseboat trips-NEVER to be brought on board- too vicious! Have seen some shocking injuries inflicted by them.

No mistaking a Hairtail- they look like they've been chromed

[Yowie]

Looks like a Pike Eel. Would rather wrestle a Great White shark than one of those critters.