Turbot [Species Menu] [Turbot articles] Common name: Turbot Latin name: Scophthalums maximus Record weight: As the Latin name suggests, the turbot is the largest species in its family reaching a metre or more in length. The boat record is held by an impressive fish of 33lb 12oz, whilst the shore record is not far behind…

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…

Dab [Species Menu] [Dab articles] Common name: Dab Latin name: Limanda limanda Record weight: One of the smallest of the flatfish that regularly turns up in anglers catches. The shore record is held by a fish of 2lb 9oz 8 drams, whilst the boat best is slightly bigger at 2lb 12oz 4 drams. Distribution: Found…

Pike [Species Menu] [Pike articles] Common name: Pike Latin name: Esox lucius Record weight: 46lb 13 oz caught from Llandegfedd Reservoir in Wales by R. Lewis in 1992. Distribution: One of the most widespread of all freshwater fish. Found throughout Northern Europe and North America, the pike is a fish of the temperate waters of…

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…

flounder [Species Menu] [flounder articles] Common name: Flounder Latin name: Platchthys flesus Record weight: As an inshore species, both the boat and shore records for flounder are very similar with weights of 5lb 11oz 8 drams and 5lb 7oz respectively. Distribution: Flounder are very common in shallow coastal waters around Europe. These small fish can…

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…

Pouting [Species Menu] [Pouting articles] Common name: Pouting Latin name: Trisopterus luscus Record weight: A small inshore member of the cod family, the pouting is one of the most common fish around the British coast and can make up a large percentage of angler catches. Whilst most fish weigh under a pound, the boat caught…

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…

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…