Whiting [Species Menu] [Whiting articles] Common name: Whiting Latin name: Merlangius merlangus Record weight: Although one of our most common fish, whiting are a relatively small species with a shore caught record of just 4lb 7drams and a boat record of 6lb 12oz. Distribution: Found from Iceland to the Northern Mediterranean. Does not appreciate warm…

Eel [Species Menu] [Eel articles] Common name: Eel Latin name: Anguilla anguilla Record weight: Although much bigger fish have been caught in fyke nets used by commercial eel fishermen, the rod caught record is a fish of 11lb 2oz caught in 1978 by S. Terry from Kingfisher Lake near Ringwood, Hampshire. Distribution: Eels are amongst…

We travelled over to the island in a very small ‘island hopper’ type plane, flying from Eastleigh airport. The good aspect is it’s a quick flight but you are limited to the amount of weight you can carry and unless you hire a car you walk everywhere. It’s also daunting seeing the island as a…

Barbel [Species Menu] [Barbel articles] Common name: Barbel Latin name: Barbus barbus Record weight: Nineteen pounds, taken by Tony Gibson from the River Great Ouse at Kickles Farm in the Spring of 2001. Distribution: Naturally found only in the rivers of Eastern England, which it entered during the last ice age. At this time the…

Grayling [Species Menu] [Grayling articles] Common name: Grayling Latin name: Thymallus thymallus Record weight: Despite a record weight of only 4lb 3oz, caught in 1989 by Mr S.R. Lanigan, the grayling is known to grow much larger than this in Europe. Fish of almost ten pounds are possible in some rivers in Northern Europe! Distribution:…

Cod [Species Menu] [Cod articles] Common name: Cod Latin name: Gadus morhua Record weight: As a result of over-fishing the boat caught cod record is likely to remain safe for many years to come. Although some good fish are still taken every year, a fish to equal the 58lb 6oz record is extremely unlikely. The…

Plaice [Species Menu] [Plaice articles] Common name: Plaice Latin name: Pleuronectes platessa Record weight: The plaice is one of the smaller flatfish found around the British coast. The boat record is a whopper of 10lb 3oz 8 drams, whilst the shore caught best is a fish of 8lb 6oz 14 drams. Distribution: Plaice were once…

Sole [Species Menu] [Sole articles] Common name: Sole Latin name: Solea solea Record weight: An inshore species, hence the record weights for this small flatfish are quite similar. A boat caught best of 4lb 1oz 12 drams is bettered by the shore record of 6lb 8oz 10 drams. Distribution: Found throughout the shallow sandy waters…

Thornback ray [Species Menu] [Thornback ray articles] Common name: Thornback ray Latin name: Raja clavata Record weight: One of the commoner ray species in many parts of the country, small thornbacks up to around ten pounds are very common. The current boat record stands at 31lb 7oz, whilst the shore best is 21lb 12oz. Distribution:…

mullet [Species Menu] [mullet articles] Common name: Grey Mullet Latin name: Mugil labeo, Mugil capito, Mugil labrosus Mullet make an interesting target for the shore based angler, not least because the largest specimens and best fishing is often found only a few feet from the shore! This is reflected in the record weights with the…