An IFS Recreational Angling licence is needed to take Short Finned Eel unless captured by the use of a bush pole. A bush pole is defined as a length of wood that is not less than one metre in length and does not have a reel and running line. Licences can be purchased from more than 130 agents located in retail businesses around the state. Licensing agents are primarily fishing stores but also include some trout guides, Service Tasmania outlets and the IFS head office

Elongated cylindrical form, with continuous dorsal-caudal-anal fins. The dorsal fin origin is located about level or slightly in front of the anal fin.

Adults vary in colour from dark brown to black on backs and sides, with a lighter or even silvery belly, a silver belly is common in mature migratory adults

Up to 1.1 m long and 3.2 kg in weight, but more commonly smaller

Native to Tasmania and south east Australia and New Zealand. Females grow larger then the males, and both sexes probably exceed 30 years of age. Sexual maturity for males is between 8 and 12 years, for females it is between 10 and 20 years. Large females can contain as many as 10 million eggs. In Tasmania and Victoria the adults form the basis of a commercial eel fishery

It is believed adult eels migrate downstream upon sexual maturity to breed at great depth in or near the Coral Sea. Spawning time is unknown, but they are believed to die after spawning. Larval eels are then swept back to the coast by ocean currents, where they transform into glass eels and move into the estuaries from March to November, where they become pigmented elvers. Elvers then move upstream over several years

Occurs in a wide variety of wetland habitats including rivers and creeks as well as lakes and swamps, but generally prefers still water.

Feed on a variety of aquatic fauna including insects, crustaceans, molluscs and fish

Large instream barriers - hydro dams; Commercial over fishing

Common and widespread in coastal and lowland rivers

They have nocturnal and cryptic habits, but may be seen moving into shallow areas on dusk to feed. Feeding eels are believed to occupy a definite home range. They can also hibernate or enter a period of dormancy over winter due to low temperatures. They have also been known to bury themselves in damp mud when the water dries up