Well, here we also catch them in eel pots; the smaller ones wind up on a hook, but as live bait for Striped Bass in season.
No one spears them much in Summer anymore around here.
They'll spear them in the cold weather when they have gone into the mud for the winter. There is still a good demand for them during the Holiday Season.
Eels have a very interesting life cycle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_eel