preacher Posted September 10, 2010 Report Share Posted September 10, 2010 Went out looking in the Hutt river tonight, bit silly really because its very full and very fast. But hey, who cares. I am SERIOUSLY glad I did, though I could kick myself for forgetting the camera again.... Why is it when you DON'T take the camera you can almost garuantee seeing something cool? I know what I saw so I don't need it identified. But can you guys work it out... Clue 1. Its an Eel. Clue 2. Long, silver blue. Clue 3. No Front fins. Clue 4. 7 holes behind its head, no gills. Clue 5. Circular, sucker mouth. I thought it was a stick, except it was clamped to the ramp of the weir at Silverstream being pummelled by the fast flowing river and I wondered why it wasn't being washed away. I tried moving it and it wriggled. I tried scooping it into my net but the darn thing kept sucking onto the rocks. Eventually I got it to let go long enough to lift it out and was very surprised, it certainly looked like no eel I had ever seen before. After a close (and wriggly) exam I let it go at the top of the weir and it sedately swam away upstream. I can't wait for Xmas when the river will be low and slow again. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted September 10, 2010 Report Share Posted September 10, 2010 Lamprey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted September 10, 2010 Report Share Posted September 10, 2010 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacher Posted September 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2010 Well done! Yes a gorgeous Lamprey Eel P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacher Posted September 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2010 Rough size, 70 - 80cm long and BE U TI FUL. Now if only I had remembered that blasted camera... P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malevolentsparkle Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 wow lucky, not a common sight i would guess. http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/fishatlas/species/lamprey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 YOU LUCKY BASTARD!!!! envy envy envy envy envy envy I am so excited for you! I can't want to come down later in the year and check out this site with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 Wow. I've only ever seen one (a juvenile), about 30 years ago in the Turitea stream here in Palmerston North. Oh, and not really an eel... Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacher Posted September 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 Lol Stella, I see one Lamprey and you envy me? I envy you... you've seen far more things than I have. I just happened to be in the right spot, at the right time, normally I wouldn't go out with the river so high cos' you don't see anything. Bear in mind that estimate is a GUESS given it was wriggling and curling up so much, but it was certainly 50cm+. Thank you friends, it certainly was a beautiful creature P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 wow. I wanna see!! They are pretty cool! Never seen an NZ native one before though. Played with some other ones in Japan. Slippery little buggers haha :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted September 12, 2010 Report Share Posted September 12, 2010 Lucky find. There are lots here in the Whanganui river but I have never seen them myself. I know some of the older Maori folk up the river still catch them for food. I have seen the traps they make for them but not the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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