Round Fish Species
Explore UK round fish species, including identification, shore-caught records, average sizes and the latest fishing regulations.Round fish are what most people picture when they think of a typical fish. They have a rounded body that gradually tapers towards the tail, usually with a broad head and clearly defined gills. Familiar species such as cod, haddock and bass are all examples of round fish.
Many round fish species inhabit the relatively shallow coastal waters surrounding the UK, making them popular targets for sea anglers fishing from beaches, piers, rocks and boats. However, not all round fish are found close to shore. Some species, including haddock and ling, generally prefer deeper offshore waters and are therefore less frequently encountered by shore anglers.
With such a wide variety of round fish found in British waters, understanding their identifying features, preferred habitats and feeding habits can help you recognise different species and improve your chances of catching them.
Cod
(Gadus morhua)
Average weight: 2–11 lb, with larger specimens occasionally caught.
Also known as: Atlantic Cod, Codling (smaller, immature cod).
Peak seasons typically caught: October to March, with November to February generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities. Seasonal patterns vary around the UK coastline.
Bass
(Dicentrarchus labrax)
Average weight: 1–5 lb, with larger specimens of 8–12 lb or more occasionally caught.
Also known as: European Sea Bass, Sea Bass, School Bass (smaller, immature bass).
Peak seasons typically caught: May to October, with June to September generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities. Seasonal patterns vary around the UK coastline.
Haddock
(Melanogrammus aeglefinus)
Average weight: 1–3 lb, with larger specimens of 5–8 lb occasionally caught.
Also known as: Atlantic Haddock, Haddie.
Peak seasons typically caught: October to March, with November to February generally offering the best opportunities. Haddock are rarely caught from the shore in most parts of the UK, as they tend to favour deeper offshore waters.
Coalfish
(Pollachius virens)
Average weight: 1–4 lb, with larger specimens of 8–10 lb or more occasionally caught.
Also known as: Coley, Saithe, Billet, Black Pollock.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to November, with June to October generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly around Scotland and northern England.
Black Bream
(Spondyliosoma cantharus)
Average weight: 1–3 lb, with larger specimens of 4–5 lb occasionally caught.
Also known as: Black Sea Bream, Porgy.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to October, with June to September generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly along the southern coast of England.
Red Bream
(Pagellus bogaraveo)
Average weight: 1–3 lb, with larger specimens of 4–6 lb occasionally caught.
Also known as: Blackspot Sea Bream, Blackspot Bream, Red Sea Bream.
Peak seasons typically caught: June to October, with July to September generally offering the best opportunities. Red bream are rarely caught from the UK shoreline, as they typically inhabit deeper offshore waters.
Garfish
(Belone belone)
Average weight: ½–1½ lb, with larger specimens occasionally reaching 2–3 lb.
Also known as: Gar, Garpike, Needlefish, Sea Needle.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to October, with June to September generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly along the southern and western coasts of the UK.
Gurnard
(Triglidae family)
Average weight: ½–2 lb, with larger specimens of 3–5 lb occasionally caught, depending on the species.
Also known as: Sea Robin, Red Gurnard, Grey Gurnard, Tub Gurnard.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to October, with June to September generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly along the southern and western coasts of the UK.
Weever
(Trachinidae family)
Average weight: Usually under ½ lb, with larger greater weevers occasionally reaching 1–2 lb.
Also known as: Weever Fish, Lesser Weever, Greater Weever.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to September, with June to August generally offering the best opportunities, particularly along sandy beaches around the southern and western coasts of the UK.
Mackerel
(Scomber scombrus)
Average weight: ½–1½ lb, with larger specimens of 2–3 lb occasionally caught.
Also known as: Atlantic Mackerel, Common Mackerel.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to October, with June to September generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly from piers, breakwaters, rocky headlands and beaches around the UK coastline.
Pollack
(Pollachius pollachius)
Average weight: 1–5 lb, with larger specimens of 8–12 lb or more occasionally caught.
Also known as: Pollock, European Pollock, Lythe.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to October, with June to September generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly around rocky headlands, reefs, kelp beds and deep-water marks along the western and northern coasts of the UK.
Whiting
(Merlangius merlangus)
Average weight: ½–1½ lb, with larger specimens of 2–3 lb occasionally caught.
Also known as: European Whiting, English Whiting, Common Whiting.
Peak seasons typically caught: October to March, with November to February generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly from sandy beaches, piers and estuaries around the UK coastline.
John Dory
(Zeus faber)
Average weight: 1–3 lb, with larger specimens of 4–6 lb or more occasionally caught.
Also known as: St Peter’s Fish, Dory, Peter’s Fish.
Peak seasons typically caught: June to October, with July to September generally offering the best opportunities, particularly along the southern and western coasts of the UK. John Dory are rarely caught from the shore, as they generally favour deeper coastal waters.
Monkfish
(Lophius piscatorius)
Average weight: 5–15 lb, although shore catches are extremely rare and there is insufficient data to establish a reliable average.
Also known as: Anglerfish, Common Monkfish, Sea Devil, Fishing Frog.
Peak seasons typically caught: No established UK shore fishing season. Monkfish are occasionally encountered throughout the year, but they predominantly inhabit deeper offshore waters and are rarely caught by shore anglers.
Pouting
(Trisopterus luscus)
Average weight: ½–1½ lb, with larger specimens of 2–3 lb occasionally caught.
Also known as: Pout, Bib, Pout Whiting, Pouting Whiting.
Peak seasons typically caught: April to November, with June to October generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly around piers, harbours, rocky marks and wrecks along the southern and western coasts of the UK.
Wrasse
(Labridae family)
Average weight: 1–4 lb, with larger ballan wrasse specimens of 5–8 lb or more occasionally caught.
Also known as: Ballan Wrasse, Corkwing Wrasse, Goldsinny Wrasse, Cuckoo Wrasse, Rockfish.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to October, with June to September generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly around rocky shorelines, reefs, kelp beds and harbour walls along the southern and western coasts of the UK.
Ling
(Molva molva)
Average weight: 3–10 lb, with larger specimens of 15–20 lb or more occasionally caught.
Also known as: Common Ling, White Ling, European Ling.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to October, with June to September generally offering the best opportunities. Ling are rarely caught from the UK shoreline, as they typically inhabit deeper offshore waters, although they can occasionally be caught from deep-water rock marks, particularly around Scotland and northern England.
Mullet
(Mugilidae family)
Average weight: 2–5 lb, with larger specimens of 6–10 lb occasionally caught.
Also known as: Grey Mullet, Thick-Lipped Grey Mullet, Thin-Lipped Grey Mullet, Golden Grey Mullet.
Peak seasons typically caught: May to October, with June to September generally offering the best shore fishing opportunities, particularly around estuaries, harbours, tidal rivers and sheltered coastal waters.