June and July: Summer arrives in the south of the UK with species like tope, smoothhound, ray, mackerel, garfish, scad, pollack, bass, mullet, gurnard, bream, plaice and sole continuing to arrive and spreading north. The baitfish – sprats, sandeel, mackerel and scad – are shadowed by many of the larger predators as they move north.
What fish are in season in the UK this summer?
With the sea water warming up over the summer, species such as the, Mackerel, Turbot, and Plaice can be found in shallower waters. You may even catch a sub-tropical exotic species around the southwest of England. We have compiled a list of fish that is in season in UK waters for you to have a look through.
Where can I catch fish in the UK?
As we all know, the availability of fish is sometimes limited to species that are available in certain months of the year. With the sea water warming up over the summer, species such as the, Mackerel, Turbot, and Plaice can be found in shallower waters. You may even catch a sub-tropical exotic species around the southwest of England.
How many species of fish are there in the sea?
Sea Fish Species Guide. With over 300 different species of fish being found in coastal waters around the British Isles, it is easy to understand why some of the less common species can be difficult to identify. Whilst species such as cod and bass are fairly well recognised by anglers, the differences between plaice,...
How many species of fish are there in the UK?
With over 300 different species of fish being found in coastal waters around the British Isles, it is easy to understand why some of the less common species can be difficult to identify.
What fish are about this time of year UK?
Plaice, mackerel, and pollock arrive in spring, bass, and tope in summer, and the autumn is one of the best times due to the overlap between summer and winter species. But winter fishing is synonymous with cod in the UK, and they normally migrate inshore to around 3 to 4 miles in.
Can you sea fish all year round UK?
Winter (December, January and February) Although some cod remain in UK waters all year round the vast majority migrate to British waters in the autumn and winter months, and leave for colder waters in the spring.
What fish can you catch in UK sea?
The families of fishes found around the UK are divided into several groups – flatfish, rays, sharks, gurnard, eels, ling, codfish, wrasse, bream, mullet, mackerel, scad, garfish and bass.
What sea fish can you catch in winter UK?
Winter. In Scotland, winter is cod season. However, other specifies such as flatfish, flounder and dab can also be found. Towards the end of winter, there is a quieter season, until warmer water fish return in mid spring.
Are mackerel in UK waters yet?
Mackerel are migratory and come to the UK in spring and early summer, when they will feed actively and then migrate to warmer seas in the autumn months to spawn, during which time they will feed little.
What month is mackerel season?
May-June is the best time to catch mackerel, although they are caught all summer in numbers and larger specimens are sometimes caught in winter.
Where is the best sea fishing in UK?
The Dumfries and Galloway coastline in the south-west of Scotland is considered by many sea anglers to be one of the finest fishing spots in the UK.
Do I need a licence to fish in the sea UK?
Do you need a fishing vessel licence? If your vessel is registered in the UK you must have a domestic fishing vessel licence to fish within the UK EEZ for sea fish that will be sold.
What is the best time to go sea fishing?
TIME OF DAY Specifically, dawn or dusk are generally the best time to go saltwater fishing if the weather and tidal movements are favorable. Remember to reference a saltwater tide chart to see which range of hours during the day will be the best fishing tide times.
Where is the best sea fishing in UK?
The Dumfries and Galloway coastline in the south-west of Scotland is considered by many sea anglers to be one of the finest fishing spots in the UK.
Can you catch mackerel in winter?
May-June is the best time to catch mackerel, although they are caught all summer in numbers and larger specimens are sometimes caught in winter.
What is the best time to fish from shore?
The best time of day to surf fish is usually the first few hours around dawn the final few hours around dusk. With that said, the tide is still the most important factor. If you really want to increase your chances, find the days where the high tide coincides with dawn or dusk. Plan to fish around these dates.
How many species of fish are there in the UK?
There are a huge number of different species of fish found in UK waters – this website has profiles on over one hundred species which have been caught from the shore in the UK. With such a huge range of fish species for anglers to target, it can be difficult to pinpoint what can be caught and at what time of the year. The information below provides a broad overview of the different species which are likely to be found around the coastline of Britain during the different seasons.
What fish migrates to the UK in autumn?
The same is true for larger bass, pollock and wrasse. As autumn goes on these species will being to thin out to be replaced by the larger mature cod, who will migrate down from the colder Scandinavian waters to join the smaller immature cod which have remained around the UK all year long.
What fish are caught in summer?
Summer is one of the busiest times for UK anglers as shoals of sprats move in, closely followed by mackerel and garfish which provides sport for anglers using spinners, feathers, daylights and float fished baits. Other species such as bass and larger pollock spend the colder months in deeper water and summer will see them coming close to the shore as they feed on sprats, sandeels and smaller mackerel. Wrasse is another species that spend winter offshore and is caught in its highest numbers in the summer months from rocky areas, with the same being true for gurnard, mullet and the venomous weever fish. Summer can also be the best time to catch a large species from the shore as this is the time that conger eels feed closest in, and species such as smooth-hound, tope and ray species are most commonly caught by shore anglers around this time of year. Semi-migratory species such as cod and whiting can be present over the summer in the colder waters off northern parts of England and Scotland. However, smaller specimens will dominate numbers and it is often only boat anglers who can access the larger cod in the warmer months. Plaice remain in British waters throughout the summer months, and those caught at this time of year will have had several months to feed in inshore waters and fatten up, meaning this time of the year offers larger plaice (which are in a much better condition) than those caught in the spring. Summer also represents the best time to fish for large and relatively rare flatfish species such as turbot, and can also be the time when anglers are in with the best chance of catching something very unusual indeed such as rare bream species (white, Pandora or gilt-head), triggerfish, or John Dory – although there is much more chance of catching a sub-tropical exotic species around the warmer waters to the south of the British Isles.
What is the quiet time of the year for sea fishing?
Spring, especially early spring, can be a quiet time around some parts of the UK for sea fishing, as many of the winter species will have moved away into offshore waters and the summer species are have yet to arrive. Later spring can be seen as a transitional time as many of the species which have migrated away from the UK for ...
When do cod fish leave the UK?
Winter (December, January and February) Although some cod remain in UK waters all year round the vast majority migrate to British waters in the autumn and winter months, and leave for colder waters in the spring. The winter is synonymous with cod fishing in many parts of the UK (as described above this is particularly true in the north of Britain).
When is the best time to fish in the UK?
Autumn (September, October and November) Autumn can be a great time for sea fishing as summer species remain as the winter species arrive. Early autumn can provide the best of both worlds for anglers, as there is often overlap between the summer and winter species. In fact, in some parts of the UK, it is possible for anglers spinning ...
Where do cod migrate in winter?
There is a great deal of regional variation with the arrival of the winter species. For example cod, migrating from the colder north will be out in greater numbers around Scotland and northern England than around the southern parts of England.
What are the three main types of sea fish?
Sea fish species across the British Isles can be split into three main categories: 1. Round Fish. Round fish are fish which have a round cross section and a body which narrows into a tail – pretty much exactly what you would think of when you think of a fish – they also tend to have broad heads and gills. Cod, haddock and bass are all common ...
How many different species of fish are there in the British Isles?
With over 300 different species of fish being found in coastal waters around the British Isles, it is easy to understand why some of the less common species can be difficult to identify. Whilst species such as cod and bass are fairly well recognised by anglers, the differences between plaice, dab and sole can still be a struggle to identify ...
How many species of eels are there in the UK?
In the UK there are only two species of eel which will be encountered by anglers – the conger eel and the european eel. Eel species are identified by their characteristically long bodies, a lone fin which is present across their entire body and their slimy, scaleless skin.
What are the two types of eels in the UK?
In the UK there are only two species of eel which will be encountered by anglers – the conger eel and the european eel . Eel species are identified by their characteristically long bodies, a lone fin which is present across their entire body and their slimy, scaleless skin. There are fish species which have some, but not all of these characteristics and therefore are not eels. There are other eel species in UK waters besides the conger and european eel, however these exist at extreme depths and will never be encountered by anglers.
What is a bass fish?
The bass is a commonly caught fish in British waters; it has silvery sides, a blue-grey back and a cream/white belly. It has two distinct fins, the first with 9 spines and the second with 13 spines. It also has a large mouth armed with sharp teeth. Warning: Keep your hands clear of the dorsal spines as they can be sharp….
Where are flatfish's fins located?
These fish have the typical flattened bodies you would expect, with their fins being located around the edges. They generally have a lateral line visible along the middle of their cross section and both eyes are positioned on the upper side of their head. Flatfish are commonly labelled as either right eyed or left eyed, depending on the side of the head the eyes are located when the fish is viewed from straight on. The most common species of flatfish are discussed here, although there are some rare ones which are generally found in particularly deep water. It is also worth mentioning that despite skates and rays looking similar to flatfish, they are actually completely different and more closely related to sharks than flatfish.
Do eels live in the UK?
There are fish species which have some, but not all of these characteristics and therefore are not eels. Other eel species do reside in UK waters, however these exist at extreme depths and will never come into contact with common anglers.
What fish are easy to identify in the UK?
For example plaice and flounder, poor cod and pouting and pollock and coalfish are all species which anglers sometimes struggle to tell apart. This page provides links to pages which provide detailed diagrams of some of the most commonly confused species ...
What is a flatfish identification guide?
Flatfish Identification Guide -This is a detailed guide of the differences between flounder, plaice, dab and Dover sole.
