While out fishing today, I saw a eel swimming next to shore.
I've never encountered a eel while beach fishing.
It was about 20" long or so and the color of a dark mustard or kelp.
When I first saw it I thought it was a piece of kelp until it swam right up to me. Sorry, didn't get a picture.

Any suggestions on what species of eel it might have been would be appreciated. I thought it might be looking for sandlance as they were flying out of the sand all around where I was fishing.
Thanks,
SF

A snake prickleback?

Smalma,
I encountered a few of those in coho stomach contents last year, so that isn't pickleback.
I'd say this eel was a good 3" wide on the sides and the tail tapered down to a point.
When it swam undulated it's body.
Wish I had gotten a picture.
SF

One of the gunnels? Maybe the penpoint?

Curt

Curt,
Those both look similar. Perhaps that what is was but it looked considerably longer then what they those are. The color is very close the penpoint.
So not a eel, but a fish.
Thanks for the help.
SF

SF -
The penpoint gets up to that 20 inch range so maybe it was what you saw. PS is a fun place that often throws us something new.

curt

Not an Eel! That there is the best baits nature ever invented! Puget Sound Sandlance, AKA Candlefish. But I've never seen any even close to 20 inches long. Better have it mounted if you have really found one that large, and have it registered/certified on a scale, as it would likely make a State or World Record. Biggest I've ever seen was maybe 10 to 11 1/2 inches or so!

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/pugetsound/species/sandlance.html

Google Puget Sound Sandlance in Google images.

That is what the Original and Famous Point Wilson Dart is modeled after. When you see scratch marks all over the noses and faces of Blackmouth or Kings you know they've been rooting like pigs Sandlance from the bottom that have burrowed into the sand. Google Point Wilson Dart Candlefish.

Next post will likely be a scolding for giving away a bit to much info here! But maybe someone will return the favor when I need some info, I hope! Good fishing and tight lines to you all. G

Whoops! Sorry about that! Thought you were posting a picture of what you saw! Rereading your post, you didn't actually get a picture of the eel, and do know exactly what a sandlance is. Maybe it was a wrymouth you saw, or a baby wolf eel?

http://www.burkemuseum.org/static/FishKey/crypt.html

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/bottomfish/identification/wrymouths_eels/a_ocellatus.html

Greenbankgus Googled Gunnels, and yes, likely a Gunnel of some sort maybe! They like it close to shore and around rocks, but 20 inches x 3 inches would seem rather large!

More years ago than I like to consider I also saw an eel like fish of similar size swimming on the surface near the NE corner of Possession Point. I am familiar with gunnels and the fish I saw was MUCH larger than the gunnels found around large beach rocks.

Not a gunnel, headshape all wrong. Not an eel, either. I'll ask one of my Marine Fish experts.........

Larry B -
The penpont while often are only 4 to 8 inches long they can get much larger - something in that 18 to 20 inch range or about the size that Stonefish described.

CM -
Remember that stonefish did not post a picture of this mystery "eel" but did post pictures of the "candle fish/sand lance" he saw the same day.

Curt

Smalma:

I did a search and was surprised to see that the coloration was as I recalled. So it was within the size and color parameters but swimming on the surface. Guess I will buy into the penpont. Lots of time on the local waters and that was my only sighting.

Thanks for the info.

Larry B

As a reference, the fish I saw matched the color of this kelp perfectly.
That is why at first I thought it was a piece of kelp until it started swimming.
Thanks for everyone's input.
SF

Juvenile wolf eel?