Silver eels

A few months ago I caught a very small eel in brackish water near cobh, I counted this as a species for 2014, I caught a nice sized silver eel Friday night my first of 2014 or so I thought , my mate tells me that the tiddler I got in brackish water is the same species, I always thought they were a different species, any help ?

Silver eels can live in sea water they can be up to 3 foot long, stap conger are black compared to their cousins silver eels are also protected due to declining stocks !

I reckon we only have 2 eels.
Conger and Freshwater/silver. They are distinctive in terms of ID.
The fish ID book covers them well.
http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/angling- ... handbook-1

Cheers lads, I posted this up a few weeks ago thanks for replying, I figured out the small eel and the silver eel were the same species, the first one was caught inside an estuary the other ones from a pier.
I didn't realise they were protected so its just as well I put most fish back alive, unless it happens to be a bit of whiting or cod.
I know the difference between conger and silver eel , I was curious about the difference between silver eel and freshwater/brackish water variety.
Thanks again

Just in case you missed this along the way: http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/21 ... 122012.pdf

Thanks Donal, I wasn't targeting them each time I caught them and they went back safe on all occasions, I didn't know they were protected, thanks for the info

The eels you catch in rivers are silver eels the ones in the sea are heading out too spawn or returning to fresh to mate