Sea Angling Ireland

Was just down digging some ragworm for a session this evening and came across this little eel-like juvenile fish under a flat rock I turned over looking for worms. I can't identify it due to the lateral stripes along the body, any idea what it is?
Also, while digging the beds, I came across a few of these oval shaped clams, not razor clams anyway. I picked a few to use but I took them out of my box to sort out the rag and forgot to put them back in before I left (smooth brain!).
Has anyone used them as bait? Perhaps they could be a good cod or ray bait?
Thanks in advance.

Looks like a butterfish to me

cd07 wrote:Looks like a butterfish to me

Oooh I think you're right. I said stripes but they are indeed little spots which match pictures I just found. Cheers!

I think the clams you dug are probably Gaper Clams, I come across them when digging ragworm in Dublin, I've used it for a cocktail bait before, with rag and lug. Never used it on its own. Caught fish all the same, just not sure which part of the cocktail did the trick.
They are edible, if the water quality is good

Don't know about Ireland on this, but one of the top match fishermen in Southern England told me that gaper clams were his go to bait for a last minute bass