River Humber Sea Fish Species
The River Humber is a wide tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It stretches for about 38.5 miles, starting at Trent Falls—where the Rivers Trent and Ouse meet—and flowing to the North Sea between Spurn Head and Cleethorpes. It also marks the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. Because of its mix of saltwater and freshwater, the Humber is home to a rich variety of River Humber fish species, making it an important habitat for both marine and estuarine wildlife.
The River Humber combines features of both the sea and the estuary, so it supports different types of fish throughout the year. For example, during the colder months, from late autumn to early spring, cod, whiting, and even haddock are common catches. These species often feed most actively during the rising and falling tides. As temperatures rise in late spring and summer, flatfish such as flounder, plaice, dab, and sole become more abundant, patrolling the sandy and muddy shallows. This seasonal change ensures that the variety of River Humber fish species remains high all year round.
See our page for the most popular marks and guides on both sides of the River Humber.
In addition to these main catches, summer fishing often brings bass and smoothhounds into the estuary, while eels can be caught in any season. Several ray species, such as the thornback ray, are also present, along with dogfish. From time to time, anglers may even catch rockling. Altogether, the estuary supports more than 80 saltwater and estuarine species. Consequently, the River Humber is regarded as one of the UK’s most diverse locations for sea fishing, attracting anglers from near and far who are eager to experience its impressive range of River Humber fish species.
Round Fish Species
Round Fish Varieties of the Humber Estuary
Cod
official UK Shore Caught Record - 44 lb 8 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
Length: typically 65–100 cm; mature individuals may reach up to ~120 cm.
Weight: on average 11–26 lb; larger specimens have been recorded.
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums) England & Wales MCRS:
- 35 cm – (Total Length)
Bag limits
There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for cod for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Haddock
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 6 lb 12 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
Length: typically 30–70 cm; mature individuals may reach up to ~80 cm.
Weight: on average 2–4 lb; larger specimens have been recorded.
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums) England & Wales MCRS:
- 35 cm (Total Length)
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Haddock for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Bass
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 19 lb 12 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: adult sea bass in UK waters range from about 31 cm to 79 cm
- Weight: an adult European sea bass usually weighs around 5.5 lbs, with most individuals falling between roughly 1 – 4 lb
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums)
England & Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- 42 (Total Length)
Bag limits
- All bass caught between 1st Of February and 31st Of March must be released (catch-and-release only).
- Recreational sea anglers may retain a maximum of two sea bass per person per day when retention is allowed.
Whiting
official UK Shore Caught Record - 4 lb 8 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: 25–35 cm; specimens up to 70 cm have been recorded.
- Weight: An adult Whiting usually weighs around 1 lb, with a 2 lb fish being classed nowadays as a shore specimen.
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums)
England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- 27 cm (Total Length)
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Whiting for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Flatfish Species
Flatfish Varieties of the Humber Estuary
Flounder
official UK Shore Caught Record - 5 lb 7 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: common length around 27 cm; normally grows about 30 cm, with larger specimens being recorded
- Weight: Caught typically around 1 lb & 2 lbs
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums)
England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- 27 cm (Total Length)
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Flounder for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Plaice
official UK Shore Caught Record - 8 lb 6 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: Adult plaice typically reach 50–60 cm, with exceptional specimens up to ~90 cm recorded
- Weight: Typical range approximately 0.5–5 lbs;
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums)
England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- 27 cm (Total Length)
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Plaice for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Dab
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 2 lb 9 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: Most adults measure around 25–40 cm
- Weight: Average adult dab weighs around 12 oz (0.75 lb)
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums) England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- 23 cm (Total Length)
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Flounder for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Sole
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 6 lb 8 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: common 30–40 cm; can reach up to ~70 cm.
- Weight: typically 2.2–4.4 lbs
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums) England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- 24 cm (Total Length)
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Sole for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Skates and Rays
Skate and Ray Species of the Humber Estuary
Thornback Ray
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 22 lb 11 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: common adult total length around 85 cm; mature individuals may reach up to ~105 cm.
- Weight: typically 4.5–8.75 lb; larger specimens have been recorded.
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums) England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
40 cm disc-width (wing tip to wing tip) ≈ 59 cm (Total Length)
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Sole for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Sharks
Shark Species of the Humber Estuary
Smooth Hound
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 20 lb 3 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: typically 100–150 cm; commonly around 100 cm total length, with exceptional individuals reaching up to 200 cm.
- Weight: on average about 10 lbs; most adults weigh between 6.6–20 lbs.
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums)
England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- 51 cm (Total Length)
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Smooth Hound for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Tope
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 86 lb 13 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: most adults measure between 135 cm and 195 cm total length (common length ~160 cm).
- Weight: typically (22–44 lb); average around 25 lbs.
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums)
England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- Tope are a fully protected species in UK waters—there is no MCRS, as all captured tope must be released immediately.
Bag limits
- Retention of tope by recreational anglers is prohibited (bag limit 0); best-practice guidelines mandate catch-and-release of every tope caught.
Dogfish
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 4 lb 15Average adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: typically 50–75 cm (20–30 in); individuals can grow up to around 100 cm
- Weight: typically 1–2 lb for UK shore-caught specimens
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums) England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- 38 cm (Total Length)
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Dogfish for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Others
Other Species of the Humber Estuary
Rockling
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 3 lb 12 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: most adult three-bearded rockling measure between 30 cm and 50 cm mature specimens may reach up to ~60 cm
- Weight: 40–60 cm rockling would weigh roughly (0.7–2.4 lb).
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums)
England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- There is no UK-wide statutory minimum size (MCRS) for rockling; Many angling guides recommend a voluntary minimum of 18 cm (Total Length).
Bag limits
- There is no UK-wide statutory bag limit for Rockling for recreational sea anglers; retention is governed solely by the minimum size regulations.
Eel
Official UK Shore Caught Record - 11 lb 3 ozAverage adult size & weight (common adult range)
- Length: typically 45–65 cm; most fall between 60–80 cm
- Weight: typically 1–2 lb
Size limits – (EA/UK legal minimums)
England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland MCRS:
- European eel are fully protected. All captured eels must be released immediately.
Bag limits
- Zero retention (bag limit 0): recreational anglers must return all European eel caught on rod-and-line immediately to the waterway.
Where To Catch?
Popular Marks On The River HumberDiscover the Humber’s most popular sea-fishing hotspots! Whether you’re chasing Flounder and Cod on the mudflats or targeting bass along sandy beaches. Our comprehensive River Humber sea fishing guide is tailored to every venue and includes the peak seasons, recommended baits & rigs along with detailed maps and directions.
