Pickerel & Eel

juvenile

Chain Pickerel

This fish is prone to over-populate whatever waters it is in, with the result that few get very big, instead, there are large numbers of small ones. They actually do pretty well in an aquarium, as long as you provide them with a steady supply of live minnows. They are not aggressive towards anything they cannot swallow.

what it looks like from the boat

-- Wikipedia


American Eel

Eels are typically only seen at night. Pencil-sized young are common. Yearlings that have just come in from the sea are 3-4 inches. After many years in freshwater, these eels go back out to sea to spawn, and then die. Eels are extremely slimy, you don't want to handle one.

-- Wikipedia


Common Watersnake

This is one of the most common snakes in NJ, inhabiting freshwater streams, ponds, lakes, swamps, marshes, and bogs throughout the state. This snake will likely retreat from you, but if you have to push your luck, this bad-tempered critter can give you a nasty non-venomous bite, and is likely to hold on for quite a while. All snakes are good swimmers, but this one actually likes the water.