What the heck is this?

[hopwood83]

I would post it on monster fish keepers they seem to know all those crazy looking fish

 

[Rbishop]

Very weird looking.

 

[Cuvier]

It looks like a synbranchid "swamp eel," possibly Monopterus albus, a wide-ranging Asian species. It has become established in Florida, Hawaii, and Georgia (where it has exhibited some tolerance of freezing conditions). Your friend's finding in New Jersey would be a first for the state, and -- as far as I'm aware -- the northernmost report of this species anywhere in the United States. Probable means of introduction: live food fish or aquarium trade.

• USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species factsheet
• Swamp eel FAQ

I suggest you contact relevant authorities -- I'm not personally familiar with the procedure, but the NAS site I linked may have additional information. Sorry for the rushed post -- I'm in a hurry at the moment.

 

[Cuvier]

I have seen these a lot around the Ohio River where I live, I have actually caught these while cat fishing we always called them Mud Puppies or Mud eels because they always submerge themselves in mud with just their heads barely above the mud waiting for an innocent fish to swim by then "SNAP" beware they have teeth and lots of them!!

I think you have some sort of siren (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Siren and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Siren) in mind. Despite their eel-like habits and appearance, these are actually aquatic salamanders (and natives of your region). Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[VT_Chris]

let it bite you...find out what it's jaw structure is. that may help with Identification

 

[NickD]

Looks like this to me. I think a couple of people above said it already.

Synbranchidae (Swamp-eels)

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4663

 

[crazycanuck]

looks like a fish lmao. you said it looks moray but its FW.. i had a 3 foot moray clamp onto my hip waders while brook trout fishing in newbrunswick last year. my uncle has lots of stories of them in FW. hope this helps

 

[crazycanuck]

let it bite you...find out what it's jaw structure is. that may help with Identification

thats a great idea ! :grinyes:

 

[xDetroitMetalx]

Good eatten?

 

[crazycanuck]

Good eatten?

possibly......