Adult European eels leave their rivers at four to ten years of age and migrate over 4,000 km (2,500 miles) to the Sargasso Sea in the western North Atlantic which becomes their principal spawning grounds. Adult eels spawn and then die, much like salmon. When the eggs hatch, they begin their two- to four-year migration back to the rivers of Europe, aided by the Gulf Stream current.
Angulas are 2-inch baby eels and are considered a delicacy. This dish is available for a limited time and is not cheap. It can only be found in the northern part of Spain: San Sebastian, Bilbao or Santiago. As one of the most traditional dishes within Basque gastronomy, it has a very specific taste and is definitely one of the most interesting in Spain.
The Angula season usually lasts from the middle of November to the end of December.
