New photo reveals 'monster' eel is actually little bigger than average man

 
Eel-longated: Plymouth Fisheries said perspective was to blame for the mistake (Pictures: LCS/Plymouth Fisheries)
Sebastian Mann16 May 2015

A "monster" eel said to have been longer than the width of two football goals was actually little bigger than the average human, it has been revealed.

The "giant" conger eel made a splash earlier this week after it was caught off the Devon coast.

Reports described the fish, which sold for just £40, as being 21ft long and 131lb in weight.

But it has since emerged the eel was actually only about 7ft in length, with a West Country fisheries blaming the mistake on perspective.

Pete Bromley, Manager of Plymouth Fisheries where the fish was landed, said: “The perspective is out in the photograph of the conger being hauled onto the quay, making it look a lot longer than it actually was.

"This photo taken by our staff yesterday of the conger alongside another landed eel gives a better indication. The chap standing next to it is around 5ft 7inches tall, and we estimated the conger eel to be around 7ft in length.

“This conger was still a very large fish, and unusual for our market. Conger does not have a great deal of commercial value today as prices have dropped, but this was an impressive fish, and a catch to make any angler’s day.”

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