| Fish Id | Fish Name | Latin Name | Description | Best Bait | Ground | Minimum Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Ballan Wrasse | Labrus bergylta | Large body in proportion to its head. Small mouth with thick lips and large conical teeth. Colouration varies immensely, but predominately brown and green. Can live as long as 30 years, and the current British boat caught record is 9lb 7oz. | All manner of baits will catch Ballan wrasse. Shellfish, Ragworm and Lugworm can be killer, but a small live hard back shore crab will take the bigger fish. | Usually found around rocks, offshore reefs, and seaweed. | 23cm (Angling Trust recommended retention size) |
| 22 | Ling | Molva molva | The Ling is a member of the cod family. It has a long, slim shape to the body with a single barbel on its chin. Ling have two dorsal fins, the first rounded and short based, but the secondary main dorsal is long, running more than half its length. Fishing for Ling is best done at night, while you will catch odd fish during daylight, darkness brings the best results. A female ling can lay an amazing 60 million eggs!! The British boat caught record is a massive 59lb 8oz. | Ling are mainly fish eaters. The ideal bait is mackerel, but Ling will also take small pollack, coalfish, whiting, pouting and sandeel. Lures and Pirks can also work well. | Very rough and rocky ground in deep water. Wrecks in deep water tend to hold bigger fish. | Defra Legal Limit - 63cm. However the Angling trust recommends 72cm |
| 21 | Conger Eel | Conger conger | Long, smooth, cylindrical body with pointed pectoral fins. Its dorsal fin starts just above the tip of the pectoral fin and runs the entire length of the body. Slate blue colour with paler underside. The Conger eel is a nocturnal predator, feeding mainly on fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans. Sexually mature at an age of 5-15 years and spawns in summer in the Atlantic off Portugal and in the Mediterranean. The Conger eel only reproduces once in its lifetime, but can produce 3-8 million eggs when it does!!! The Current boat caught British record is 133lb 4 oz!!! | A variety of fish baits. Mackerel, Pouting, whiting and other small fish will catch Conger. | Congers are mostly encountered living amongst holes in rock or in manmade structures such as wrecks, piers and harbour walls. | 58cm - Defra. Angling trust recommended retention sizes are, Shore - 91cm and Boat - 120cm. The AT RRSL's are also adopted by Southern Sea fisheries as the legal limits. |
| 20 | Coalfish | Pollachius virens | Sometimes known as Saithe, and occasionally confused with the Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) Has a distinct, straight lateral line. Colouration is brown-green above the lateral line and much paler below it leading to an almost white belly. Current British boat record is a massive 37lb 5oz!!!! | Larger fish are usually caught on Wrecks using all manner of lures. Smaller fish tend to be further inshore where shellfish and fish baits tend to work best. | Wrecks reefs and rocky ground | 35cm Legal limit and Angling trust recommended retention size. |
| 19 | Pollack | Pollachius pollachius | Being a member of the cod family, Pollack have three dorsal fins and streamlined bodies and huge eyes. Colouration is dark green or greeny brown across their backs and silver to white along the flanks and belly. The lateral line is curved, and their lower jaw is longer than the top. Drifting with lures across reefs and wreck can be extremely productive. The lure is lowered to the bottom, a few quick turns to clear you of the bottom, and then a gentle wind up. Pollack often follow lures high up in the water, almost to the surface, before grabbing it and crash diving hard and fast back towards the seabed. The British boat caught record stands at 29lb 4oz | Pollack tend to be fished for using lures, or with fish baits such as squid sandeel herring and mackerel. | You will find Pollack in amongst wrecks, rocks, kelp beds. Juveniles tend to be found close to shore in amongst rocks and steep cliffs. | 30cm - DEFRA Legal limit and Angling trust recommended. |
| 18 | Cod | Gadus morhua | One of the most sought after fish in UK waters, both commercially and by anglers. The cod has a large barbel on its bottom jaw, and has three dorsal fins. The cods head is large by comparison to its body, and has a massive mouth. Colouration is a mottled yellow/brown. In summer cod often live amongst kelp beds and can adopt a deep red colouration. Cod of well over 100lb have been caught in Scandinavia!! | In winter months crab, squid and worms baits are ideal, and often the bigger the bait the better!! In summer over wrecks and reefs lures are the main weapon of choice. | Wrecks and reefs in summer, with the fish moving closer inshore in the winter months, inshore rough ground is the ideal place to try. | 35cm Legal limit and Angling trust recommended retention size. |
| 32 | Whiting | Merlangius merlangus | The start of the Winter fishing season is marked by the arrival of the whiting shoals. Whiting are ferocious feeders, and can be seen as a nuisance fish when trying to target codling in the cooler months. Calm weather produces the best whiting fishing, and fishing at night is almost essential. British boat caught record is 6lb 12oz | Worm baits catch fish, but tip off with fish baits such as mackerel, squid, herring or sandeel. A small whole sandeel can often find the bigger fish. | Clean sand and shingle seabeds. | Defra legal limit and Angling Trust recommended retention size - 27cm |
| 24 | Bass | Dicentrarchus labrax | Highly regarded as the UK's number one saltwater sport fish. Long silver flanks with a large mouth. Spiked dorsal and pectoral fins, and serrated gill covers can catch out an unwary angler. The current British shore record stands at a staggering 19lb 12oz!!! | Lugworm and crab baits for smaller schoolies, Crab, whole squid and mackerel head account for a good proportion of larger fish. Excellent sport can be had fishing with lures. | Surf beaches, rocky outcrops, reefs and sandbanks are the places to try. | 36cm Legal limit / 45cm in Cornwall (Angling Trust recommended retention size) |
| 26 | Flounder | Platichthys flesus | The flounder is prolific in UK waters, particularly in and around estuaries where it will feed on shrimps, small crabs, cockles, mussels and worms. Flounders are often regarded as pests due to their habit of snaffling your perfectly presented crab bait intended for a more prized fish. Flounders are often mis-identified as Plaice, however the humble and much maligned Flounders' appearance could be described as crude and less 'delicate', with its large broad tail and big head. Its flesh can often appear 'flabby' compared to the Plaice and Dab. Its colour ranges from dull brown to almost dull mottled green with occasionally muted red spots apparent. It's body shape is also longer and more elongated in comparison to the Plaice and Dab. The current Boat caught British record for a flounder is 5lb 11 oz which was caught way back in 1956!! | Flounders will eat anything!!! Small pieces of worm, mackerel, squid and crab will all catch fish. | Mainly found over sand and mud. Flounders will also move well up into estuaries. | 27cm Defra Legal Limit |
| 30 | Common Smoothhound | Mustelus mustelus | A member of the shark family, long streamlined body with large dorsal fins, a pointed snout and are grey in colour. The Common Smoothhound is actually less common than its name might suggest, with the Starry Smoothhound being much more prolific in UK waters. The boat caught British record currently stands at 28lb!!! | Crab is the Smoothhound's favourite food. Hermits, shore crabs, even lobsters and squat lobsters!! If you really can???t get hold of crab, squid can sometimes take a few fish. | Clean sand or gravel sea beds, ideally with gullies and gutters. | None specified! Please return all Sharks as soon as possible. |
| 31 | Starry Smoothhound | Mustelus asterias | A member of the shark family, long streamlined body with large dorsal fins, a pointed snout and are grey in colour with small star like spots along its back. The Starry Smoothhound is actually more common than its close relative the common smoothhound. The boat caught British record currently stands at 28lb 2oz!!! | Crab is the Smoothhound???s favourite food. Hermits, shore crabs, even lobsters and squat lobsters!! If you really can???t get hold of crab, squid can sometimes take a few fish. | Clean sand or gravel sea beds, ideally with gullies and gutters. | None specified |
| 33 | Lesser Spotted Dogfish | Scyliorhinus canicula | The LSD is also known as the Small-spotted catshark. It is a small, shallow-water shark with a slender shaped body with a blunt head. The two dorsal fins are located towards the tail end of the body. The texture of their skin is rough, similar to the coarseness of sandpaper. The underside is a lighter greyish-white colour and the upper side is greyish-brown with darker spots. The British boat caught record is 4lb 9oz. | Virtually any bait will catch dogfish, but fish baits definitely attract more LSD | It is found primarily over sandy, gravely or muddy bottoms at depths of a few meters down to 400 m. | The Angling trust recommends 46cm for boat caught, and 38cm from the shore. |
| 34 | Haddock | Melanogrammus aeglefinus | Easily recognised by a black lateral line running along its white side and a distinctive dark blotch above the pectoral fin, often described as the "Devil's thumbprint" and are typically cod-like with three dorsal fins and two ventral fins. Haddock is most commonly found at depths of 40 to 133 m (130 to 436 ft), but has a range as deep as 300 m (980 ft). It thrives in temperatures of 2 to 10C (36 to 50F). Juveniles prefer shallower waters and larger adults deeper water. Haddock feed primarily on small invertebrates, although larger members of the species may occasionally consume fish. The British boat record for Haddock is 13lb 11oz | Small lures can take a few fish, but small slivers of fresh mackerel take the majority of fish. | Sand and muddy seabeds. | Defra Legal Limit - 30cm. Angling trust recommends 35cm for boat caught, and 30cm from the shore. |
| 36 | Spurdog | Squalus acanthias | They are a very small and slender shark also known as the common spiny dogfish. Spurdog's tend to be dark grey along their backs and light grey or brown on their sides, with a white belly. It is similar in shape to the Smoothhound, however the Spurdog's two dorsal fins have sharp spines on their leading edges and large star patterns across its back. The current British boat record for the Spurdog is 21 lb 3oz. | Best baits for spurdogs are strips of squid or crab, or a squid/crab cocktail | Sand and muddy seabeds, in 10m-200m of water | The Angling trust recommends 58cm. |
| 43 | Turbot | Scophthalmus maximus | The turbot is a large left-eyed flatfish found primarily close to shore in sandy shallow waters and feeds mainly on small fish such as sandeels and gobies. It has a speckled asymmetrical disk-shaped body, and has been known to grow up to 100 cm (39 in) long and 25 kg (55 lb) in weight. Turbot is highly prized as a food fish for its delicate flavour. The British Boat caught record stands at 33lb 12oz | Fish baits. Sandeel, small whiting or pouting flapper will catch turbot | Shallow Sandy beaches | Defra Legal Limit - 30cm. Angling trust recommends 41cm for boat caught, and 35cm from the shore. (note:Southern sea fisheries impose the AT recommended limits. |
| 44 | Brill | Scophthalmus rhombus | One of our largest flatfish. Broad body and wide fins with small, smooth scales. The Brill is able to change colour to match the seabed, but is often olive green, with dark and light spots. Feeds mainly on small fish, squid, shrimp and crabs. | Squid strips, sandeel and worm baits. | Lives on sandy or mixed ground seabeds often around sandbanks and prefers deeper water from around 10-70 meters | 30cm in most areas / 35cm for Southern Sea fisheries and Angling Trust Recommended Retention size |
| 45 | Dab | Limanda limanda | Probably the UKs most common flatfish, but also one of the smallest flatfish in our waters. The British boat caught record is 2lb 12oz. Light brown in colour, with a rounded tail fin. Quite often dabs are confused with other flatfish. However there are certain things to look for. If you hold a dab up to sunlight you can almost see through it. The lateral line is also quite distinctive, being straight along the body ending with a crescent shape around its pectoral fin. A dabs skin is smooth from head to tail but very rough from tail to head. Dabs make great eating, grilled whole with a lemon wedge on the side!!! | Lugworm baits are ideal. Often Black lug worm that has been left in the sun for a day works really well. | Sand or muddy seabeds. | Defra Legal Limit - 23cm minimum |
| 60 | Thornback Ray | Raja clavata | The thornback ray is probably one of the most common rays encountered by divers. Like all rays it has a flattened body with broad, wing-like pectoral fins. The body is kite-shaped with a long, thorny tail. The back is covered in numerous thorny spines, as is the underside in older females. Can be all shades of brown, with dark and light spots and blotches, with a white underside. The British Boat record is 31lb 7oz. | Crab and worm baits from the shore, with fish baits from the boat. | Prefers clean sandy seabeds, covering itself with sand to create an ambush for passing prey. In fast tides thornbacks will often sit in holes and depressions out of the run of tide. Estuaries and patches of sand or mud in between rocks and reef will also often hold Thornbacks. | 41cm wingtip to wingtip. |
| 59 | Halibut | Hippoglossus hippoglossus | The Halibut is among the largest bony fish in the world. Halibut are strong swimmers and are able to migrate long distances. Very few fish are caught in the British Isles by rod and line anglers; however numbers of catches are increasing as more people are targeting them specifically. Appearance is very similar to that of an extremely large flounder. Its upper surface is a uniformly dark chocolate, olive or slate colour, and can be almost black (though younger fish are lighter and more mottled); the underside is pale white. | Halibut are mainly fish eaters. Mackerel, Bluey, and Herring are the main choices, but small codling, whiting and pout should also catch fish | Sand, gravel or clay bottoms at depths of between 50 and 2,000 metres (160 and 6,600 ft) | 10kg from a boat and 3kg from the shore (Angling trust Recommended Retention size) |
| 52 | Mackerel | Scomber scombrus | A streamlined fish with a powerful body similar to a small Tuna. Colouration is greeny blue with well defined wavy black stripes along their backs, leading to a white belly. Pound for pound probably one of the hardest fighting fish in our waters, if only they grew to 20 or 30lb!!! The British boat caught record is 6lb 2oz. They form large shoals near the surface and feed mainly on sandeel whitebait and other small baitfish. Full strings of feathers are to be expected if you drop into a decent shoal. Clear water and settled weather is ideal for mackerel fishing due to them feeding mainly by sight. Mackerel are highly prized for the table and the bait box. Their high oil content makes them tasty for us and other fish!! Try sprinkling with cracked black pepper and shallow fry until the skin is crispy!!! Yummy!!! | Lures. Feather rigs, shrimp rigs, small mepps style spinners. | Mackerel feed in the mid to surface layers. | Defra legal limits - 30cm in North Sea, 20cm elsewhere. The Angling Trust recommend 30cm minimum. |
| 53 | Garfish | Belone belone | Long sleek and silver missiles!! Garfish have long pointed jaws with lots of small teeth. They feed on small fish such as sandeel in the mid and surface layers. The current British boat record is 3lb 9oz | Float fished fish and squid strips do the business here, if using fish baits try the whiter belly meat as Garfish feed mainly by sight. Often the use of "churvy" can help bring Garfish onto the feed. This is a mixture of bran fish oils, mackerel, or even butchers meat. | Feeds close to the surface around piers, breakwaters and jetties. | 38cm Angling Trust Recommended retention size |
| 61 | Plaice | Pleuronectes platessa | Plaice can be identified by their conspicuous vivid orange or red spots. These are quite easily distinguished from the dull reddish spots occasionally found on Flounders, which are sometimes mistaken for Plaice. The bony ridge behind the eyes, is another characteristic for Plaice. Its body is oval in shape, with the end of its tail noticeably rounded and quite small in proportion to its body...The underside of the Plaice is white with an opaque herringbone pattern visible. Its diet mainly consists of shellfish, razorfish, crabs, worms and shrimps. The current Boat caught record is a bin-lid sized 10lb 3oz!! | Black and blow lugworm are ideal baits. Sometimes tipping off with ragworm, mussel or cockles can give you the edge. Small crab baits can also tempt Plaice, if you can keep your baits away from Flounders. Adding beads, sequins and small flicker spoons can often improve your catch rates, particularly in clearer water. | Sandbanks and sandy gullies are the ideal spots for Plaice. Closer inshore, sandy beaches ideally with patches of mussel. | 27cm Defra Legal Limit. 28cm recommended by the Angling Trust. |
| 62 | Tope | Galeorhinus galeus | A slim bodied shark with a triangular dorsal fin. Overall grey upper half, although colours vary depending on the ground the frequent, leading to paler grey or off white underneath. Tope have extremely sharp, serrated triangular teeth. These can catch unwary anglers out when removing hooks. BE CAREFUL! Feeds mainly on whiting, dabs, codling and pouting. | Whilst many articles suggest the use of Mackerel as the primary bait, half a dab, or a whole whiting fished as a flapper will do the business. In some areas sections from an Eel will work wonders. But it???s got to be fish!! | Wherever there is food!! Sandy gullies, banks and gutters that hold plenty of flatfish. Shallow reefs also attract Tope where they will feed on small Pollack and pouting. Rocky headlands with fast tides also hold Tope. | Tope are protected. All sharks must be returned alive as soon as possible. |