ESO Pelican Eel is one of four rare fish needed for the High Seas Master Angler achievement during the High Seas of Tamriel event. You can catch it from Abecean Saltwater Fishing Holes off the Gold Coast, close to the Anchorage for the Riotous Redress. These special fishing spots are available during the event, which runs until October 14, 2026.
Catching ESO Pelican Eel doesn’t involve defeating a boss or completing an underwater quest. You’ll need ordinary saltwater bait, the correct event fishing holes and a little patience while waiting for the rare fish to appear. The same fishing spots also count towards the Set Sail on the High Seas Golden Pursuits challenges.
Where to Find ESO Pelican Eel
Image credit: ZeniMax Online Studios.
ESO Pelican Eel can be caught in the waters surrounding the Anchorage for the Riotous Redress, located off the Gold Coast near Anvil. This is the main location for the High Seas of Tamriel event, where players board the Riotous Redress and take part in the new sailing activities.
Head towards the anchorage and look for fishing spots named Abecean Saltwater Fishing Hole. The name matters because ordinary saltwater fishing spots elsewhere along the Gold Coast aren’t the event-specific locations used for High Seas Master Angler.
You won’t find Pelican Eel by exploring the underwater areas visited during Bounty of the Abecean Sea. Although the event features underwater exploration, this particular fish comes from the fishing holes near the anchorage.
If a hole runs out of fish, move to another nearby Abecean Saltwater Fishing Hole and continue casting.
For more information about the area, see our ESO Abecean Saltwater Fishing Holes location guide.
Best Bait for ESO Pelican Eel
The correct bait for ESO Pelican Eel is Worms or Chub. Both are used for saltwater fishing in The Elder Scrolls Online and work with the event’s Abecean Saltwater Fishing Holes.
Neither bait has a confirmed advantage for catching Pelican Eel specifically, so you can use whichever you already have. There’s no special event bait to unlock, and switching to lake or river bait won’t improve your chances.
Using bait that doesn’t match the water type can result in Used Bait instead of a fish. Since Pelican Eel is a rare catch, it’s worth carrying enough Worms or Chub for several fishing holes.
You’ll also catch ordinary fish while waiting for the trophy fish to appear. This is normal and doesn’t mean you’re fishing in the wrong location, provided the hole is correctly named.
How to Catch ESO Pelican Eel Faster
Catching ESO Pelican Eel depends on the game’s fishing system, so there’s no guaranteed number of casts before you’ll receive it. However, several existing ESO fishing bonuses can improve your chances of catching rare fish.
Artaeum Pickled Fish Bowl is particularly helpful because it increases the likelihood of catching rare fish. If you have the food available, use it before beginning your fishing session.
The Angler’s Instincts Champion Point perk also improves your chances of catching higher-quality fish. Fishing alongside other players at the same hole provides another rare-fish bonus, although shared fishing holes can run out more quickly.
Players with Sharp-as-Night can also benefit from his fishing perk, Sharp’s Patience, which reduces the time spent waiting for fish to bite.
These bonuses can make fishing more rewarding, but none guarantees that your next rare catch will be Pelican Eel. Continue moving between active holes once each one is exhausted.
ESO Pelican Eel and High Seas Master Angler
ESO Pelican Eel is one of four trophy fish listed under the High Seas Master Angler achievement. The other three are Abecean Slaughterfish, Abyssal Grenadier and Pelagic Lanternfish.
All four are classified as Salt catches and come from the same Abecean Saltwater Fishing Holes. You won’t need to visit different zones or change bait types to catch the remaining species.
Only one Pelican Eel is required for its achievement entry. Once you’ve caught it, check the High Seas Master Angler achievement to confirm that the fish has registered.
If you’ve already caught Pelican Eel but still need another species, continue fishing in the same area. Each trophy fish has its own achievement entry, and catching one doesn’t automatically complete the others.
Our ESO High Seas Master Angler guide covers all four fish and their requirements.
Golden Pursuits Fishing Challenges
Set Sail on the High Seas Golden Pursuits fishing objectives.
While hunting ESO Pelican Eel, you can also complete two objectives from the Set Sail on the High Seas Golden Pursuits campaign.
One objective requires fishing from Abecean Saltwater Fishing Holes 10 times, while the second requires fishing from them 20 times.
Both use the same event fishing spots near the Riotous Redress, allowing you to make progress towards Golden Pursuits while searching for Pelican Eel.
You don’t need to catch a rare fish on every attempt to work towards these fishing tasks. Even if your first several casts produce ordinary fish, you can continue progressing the Golden Pursuits objectives.
You can find the full activity list and milestone rewards in our ESO Set Sail on the High Seas Golden Pursuits guide.
Why Isn’t ESO Pelican Eel Appearing?
If ESO Pelican Eel isn’t appearing after several casts, check the fishing hole name first. It should say Abecean Saltwater Fishing Hole rather than the standard Saltwater Fishing Hole found elsewhere along the coast.
Next, check your equipped bait. Worms and Chub are both suitable, but using bait intended for a different water type can lead to wasted catches.
Even with the correct setup, Pelican Eel may take longer to appear than the other achievement fish. Some players have reported catching all four species relatively quickly, while others have spent considerably longer fishing without completing their collection.
There’s no confirmed separate spawn location or special requirement that makes Pelican Eel appear after a particular quest. Fishing the event holes repeatedly remains the way to obtain it.
If the hole stops being available, move to another active one rather than waiting at the same spot.
Can You Catch Pelican Eel Without Completing the Daily Quest?
ESO Pelican Eel isn’t a reward from defeating Krelzimar or completing Bounty of the Abecean Sea. It’s caught through the normal fishing interaction at the event-specific holes.
Players have reported being able to use the fishing holes without first finishing the underwater daily quest on that character.
The fishing area is near the Riotous Redress anchorage, so you can look for the named holes without travelling through the daily quest’s underwater sections.
When Does ESO Pelican Eel Stop Being Available?
ESO Pelican Eel is associated with the limited-time High Seas of Tamriel event, which runs from September 30 to October 14, 2026.
The event’s fishing holes, Golden Pursuits objectives and High Seas Master Angler activity are tied to this period. You’ll want to finish catching the four trophy fish before the event ends.
Once Pelican Eel has registered in your achievement, you can continue using the same bait and fishing spots for any remaining High Seas Master Angler catches. Completing all four entries finishes the achievement, while additional fishing can still contribute towards unfinished Golden Pursuits objectives.
Official source: Official High Seas of Tamriel event page
