Conger Eel

The conger is a heavy-bodied, smooth-skinned eel, grey to brown above and paler below, with a large mouth, powerful jaws and a fin that runs unbroken along the back and tail. Unlike the moray, it has well-developed pectoral fins and a blunter, more robust head. It shelters by day in caves, ledges, wrecks and rubble from the Western Cape through the Eastern Cape.

Congers are nocturnal predators that emerge after dark to hunt fish, octopus and crustaceans, and they can retreat backward into a hole with surprising speed. They are non-aggressive but will bite hard if grabbed or cornered, so respect the jaws when working near occupied holes. Spearos usually encounter them tucked deep in structure rather than in the open.