Species

Mackerel are a fast predatory fish, closely related to tuna. They have no swim bladder which means they can change depth rapidly and must keep moving all of the time. Mackerel are the fastest swimming fish in UK waters,…

The large eyes and mouth make it clear that the pollock is a predatory fish that feeds by hunting. While most fish are either demersal (feed on or near the seabed), or pelagic (live and feed in mid-water), pollock will f…

Ballan wrasse are the biggest and most common wrasse around the UK coastline. They can grow to around ten pounds in weight, although one of half this size would be a very good catch for a UK sea angler. They inhabit rock…

A medium to large fish, the brown trout lives in fast-flowing, stony and gravelly rivers. It is a predatory fish, feeding on insect larvae, small fish and flying insects, such as mayflies and damselflies. Spawning occurs…

Coalfish are a relatively common species around much of the United Kingdom. They are an attractive looking fish with a streamlined body. They feed primarily by hunting other fish but will also scour the seabed for any fo…

The roach is a small to medium-sized fish. It is a member of the carp family and has the typical carp shape. It is found in large ponds, lakes and slow-flowing rivers. One of the most common fish in lakes, roach often ga…

The perch is a medium-sized fish with a characteristic humped shape. A predator, the perch feeds on invertebrates, crayfish and other fish. It lives in large ponds, lakes, reservoirs, canals and lowland rivers, and is of…

Plaice are most commonly caught by shore anglers between March and September as they spend the colder winter months in deeper water far out at sea where they spawn. When the sea temperature begins to warm up in the sprin…

The European seabass is a predatory fish found around the UK. They are highly mobile, migrating inshore in summer months when they are found in estuaries and surprisingly far upstream in rivers. In the winter months they…

The pike is a large fish that can grow over a metre in length. It is found in lakes and slow-flowing rivers and canals that have a lot of vegetation. It uses these plants as hiding places when hunting, bursting out with…

A large fish, the rainbow trout was introduced into UK fish farms from North America in the early 20th century; it has now become established in rivers and lakes throughout the country. It can live in poorer quality wate…

Smooth-hound are a shallow water shark species, which favour sandy, shingle and light broken ground, and tend to stay clear of heavy, rocky ground. They live in relatively shallow water and are seldom found in water more…

The tench is a medium-sized, heavy, deep-bodied fish. It can be found in soft-bottomed lakes and in slow-flowing rivers with plenty of vegetation. Tench are quite shy fish, hiding among dense weed. They feed on invertebr…