Norwegian record Atlantic hagfish: 120 g

About Atlantic hagfish

The Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa) is not an eel at all but a jawless fish and one of the most primitive vertebrates alive. With no true vertebrae, it is flexible enough to tie itself in a knot. Its eyes are reduced and hidden under the skin, so it finds food by smell. Instead of jaws, it has a tongue armed with sharp horny teeth that works like a rasp. When disturbed, it releases huge amounts of slime that make it almost impossible to grip. It lives on soft bottoms in the North Atlantic from Murmansk to the Mediterranean and is common in deep Norwegian fjords, from about 20 m to more than 1,000 m. It feeds mainly on dead and dying fish, boring into their bodies. Typical length is 30–40 cm. It can spoil catches on longlines and in nets. Norwegian Red List 2021: Least Concern (LC).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia, MarLIN

• Habitat: Saltvann
• Red list status: LC (2021)

See the species guide

Biggest Atlantic hagfish in FishComp

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How to register a Norwegian record

1. Norwegian sport-fishing records are registered with Villmarksliv, not with FishComp. Read the rules before you do anything else with the fish.
2. Records are based on weight and approved by a jury. You give the weight and length, where it was caught, the gear you used and any witnesses.
3. Keep your photos and notes from the catch. Logging it in FishComp does not register a record.