UK Fish Identification GUIDE
A page full of photos of fish i have caught or had the chance to photograph over the years. Its not a complete list of UK species and more will be added as and when i encounter them!
Anglerfish - Lophius piscatorius
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Bream
9 species of bream can potentially be caught in UK waters - Red, Black, Gilthead, Couch's, Rays, Pandora, Axillary, Saddled and White Bream. Those most likely to be encountered whilst fishing are Black, Red, Gilthead and Couch's.
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Couch's Bream - Pagrus pagrus
A fairly rare species in the UK. This warm water bream species can be found in the far south west in the sumemr months. Juveniles can be found within some estuaries and larger individuals tend to be found in deep water. |
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Gilthead Bream - Sparus aurata
A species of warm water bream that is increasingly becoming resident in south coast estuaries. |
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Black Bream - Spondyliosoma cantharus
Common along much of the South and West coasts of the UK from Spring to Autumn. Shoals will congregate around inshore reefs during May and June to breed and spawn. Males tend to take on a dark black colouration (hence the name) with striking blue markings, and female tend to take on a more silvery colouration. |
Cod Family
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Cod - Gadhus morhua
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Coalfish - Pollachius virens
Pollack - Pollachius pollachius
Haddock - Melanogrammus aeglefinus
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Pouting - Trisopterus luscus
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Poor Cod - Trisopterus minutus
Poor Cod are often confused with young Pouting. The anal fin of the Poor Cod begins well back from the start of the first dorsal fin. In the Pouting the anal fin starts inline with the first dorsal fin. |
Whiting - Merlangius merlangus
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Blue Whiting - Micromesistius poutassou
A deep water species rarely caught on rod and line |
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Ling - Molva molva
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Three Bearded Rockling - Gaidropsarus vulgaris
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Shore Rockling - Gaidropsarus mediterraneus
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Flatfish
Flounder - Platyichthys flesus
Flounder are usually right eyed but some individuals can be left eyed as shown by the photo on the left hand side - i have always called them 'Flip Flounder'. Flounders are usually pale white on the underside but some individuals can have brown coloration on both sides. The centre photo and right side photos show a 'double-sided' Flounder. Flounders can often have bright orange or red spots on the eyed side and this can often cause them to be wrongly identified as Plaice but Flounder can be identified by the rough tubercles located along the lateral line which are not present in Plaice.
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Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa
Dab - Limanda limanda
Sometimes can be confused with Flounder - Dabs have a highly curved lateral line around the pectoral fin which in flounder remains fairly straight.
Sometimes can be confused with Flounder - Dabs have a highly curved lateral line around the pectoral fin which in flounder remains fairly straight.
Brill - Scopthalamus rhombus
Sometimes young Brill can be confused with young Turbot - Brill have a more round elongate body than the diamond shaped Turbot.
Sometimes young Brill can be confused with young Turbot - Brill have a more round elongate body than the diamond shaped Turbot.
Turbot - Scophthalmus maximus
Common Sole/Dover Sole - Solea solea
Lemon Sole - Microstomus kitt
Megrim - Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis
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Common Topknot - Zeugopterus punctatus
One of the few flatfish species that entirely inhabits rocky habitat. It is also unusual amongst the flatfish as it doesn't seem able to change its coloration as well as many other species - instead it relies on immobility, often in crevices and overhangs, to avoid predation. Several sources report that the Common Topknot does not change its colouration to match its background, however the photos on the left show the same individual photographed 2 days apart. On the first occasion its skin was light in colour and on the second occasion the Topknot was much darker. |
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Norwegian Topknot - Phrynorhombus norvegicus
A very small species of flatfish with a max length of approx. 130mm. Coloration varies from mottled brown through to pink and is usually found on rocky habitat. |
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Solenette - Buglossidium luteum
A small sole species with a maximum length of approx. 130mm. Common over sandy and muddy ground. |
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Thick Back Sole - Microchirus variegates
A small deep water sole species found over sandy or muddy ground. Maximum length approx. 200mm. |
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Scaldfish - Arnoglossus laterna
A small thin flatfish with very fragile scales and fins. It reaches a maximum length of approx. 250mm and is usually found over sandy or muddy ground in deep water. |
Gurnards
Red Gurnard - Chelidonichthys cuculus
Tub Gurnard - Chelidonichthys lucerna
Grey Gurnard - Eutrigla gurnardus
Mullet
3 species of true mullet can be caught in the UK. An easy method of identification is to assess the position where the pectoral fin reaches when bent towards the mouth. In Thick Lipped Mullet the pectoral fin reaches across the eye, in Thin Lipped Mullet the pectoral fin does not reach the eye and in Golden Greys the pectoral fin reaches the pupil. For a more robust approach to identifying these 3 mullet species check out the word document below which i obtained from the National Mullet Clubs website. The red mullet and striped red mullet are not true mullet species and are members of the goatfish family.
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Thick Lipped Mullet - Chelon labrosus
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Thin Lipped Mullet - Liza ramada
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Golden Grey Mullet - Liza aurata
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Striped Red Mullet - Mullus surmuletus
Rays
Thornback Ray - Raja clavata
Colouration and patterns can sometimes be drab on Thornback rays in some areas but are often well marked as shown in the photo.
Colouration and patterns can sometimes be drab on Thornback rays in some areas but are often well marked as shown in the photo.
Small Eyed Ray - Raja microcellata
Blonde Ray - Raja brachyura
Small Blonde Ray are sometimes confused with Spotted Ray - The dark spots on a blonde ray extend all the way to the edge of the wings where as a Spotted Rays spots stop before the edge of the wing.
Small Blonde Ray are sometimes confused with Spotted Ray - The dark spots on a blonde ray extend all the way to the edge of the wings where as a Spotted Rays spots stop before the edge of the wing.
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Spotted Ray - Raja montagui
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Undulate Ray - Raja undulata
Found mainly on the South coast of England within the English Channel, particularly around the Solent, however less common in South Devon and strangely absent in South Cornwall. Also found along the South and West coasts of Ireland.
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Cuckoo Ray - Leucoraja naevus
Inhabits deeper waters and mainly found off Southwestern shores. Rarely caught on rod and line. |
Sharks
Blue Shark - Prionace glauca
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Bull Huss - Scyliorhinus stellaris
Small Bull Huss are often misidentified as Lesser Spotted Dogfish - In general Bull Huss have much larger dark spots along their body. Some Bull Huss can be so dark you cant see their spots. Bull Huss also have much larger nasal flaps than Lesser Spotted Dogfish.
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Lesser Spotted Dogfish - Scyliorhinus canicula
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Tope - Galeorhinus galeus
Weevers
Greater Weever - Trachinus draco
Lesser Weever - Echiichthys vipera
Wrasse
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7 species of wrasse can potentially be caught in the UK - Ballan, Cuckoo, Corkwing; the rarer Rock Cook and Goldsinney; and the much rarer Baillons and Scale Rayed Wrasse. I myself have caught the 5 more common species and the rarer Baillons Wrasse. I managed to catch all 5 of the more common species in one wrasse trip - see photo to the right - i kept them alive in a rock pool but couldn't find the Goldsinney again for the photo!
Ballan wrasse are usually the target of a 'wrasse fishing trip' and give an excellent account for themselves once hooked. I get just as much pleasure from targeting the smaller species on light gear and as i do from a powerful ballan and it can be quiet rewarding when you catch one of the rarer species. Wrasse species often get misidentified and have heard/seen small Ballans being labelled as Corkwings and vice versa, Rock cooks being identified as Corkwings and Female Cuckoos being called Goldsinneys. Ballans can show huge variation in their coloration ranging from bright green, mottled red/cream, orange to dark brown and pretty much everything in between. The photos below show the clear differences between the coloration of each wrasse species - you can ID the UK species of wrasse from the coloration, shape and features of their heads alone although more robust methods of identification can be used. |
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Ballan Wrasse - Labrus bergylta
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Cuckoo Wrasse - Labrus mixtus - Male - red colouration (Top) & yellow colouration (Middle), & Female (Bottom)
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Corkwing Wrasse - Symphodus melops - Male (Top) & Female (Bottom)
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Baillons Wrasse - Symphodus bailloni - Female
Female Baillons Wrasse look similar to a female Corkwing Wrasse. Baillions Wrasse have a dark spot about 2/3rds of the way along the dorsal fin and at the base of the tail - just visible in this specimen. The facial markings are different to that of a female Corkwing and the urogenital papilla (the egg laying part) in a Baillons is black/grey whereas it is blue/purple on a Corkwing. Male Baillons wrasse have a different colouration to females with pink/red fins and turquoise and pink facial markings and spots.
Female Baillons Wrasse look similar to a female Corkwing Wrasse. Baillions Wrasse have a dark spot about 2/3rds of the way along the dorsal fin and at the base of the tail - just visible in this specimen. The facial markings are different to that of a female Corkwing and the urogenital papilla (the egg laying part) in a Baillons is black/grey whereas it is blue/purple on a Corkwing. Male Baillons wrasse have a different colouration to females with pink/red fins and turquoise and pink facial markings and spots.
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Rockcook Wrasse - Centrolabrus exoletus
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Goldsinney Wrasse - Ctenolabrus rupestris
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Tetraodontiformes
Ocean Sunfish - Mola mola
A summer visitor to UK waters and can often been seen swimming at the surface or laying flat on it side waiting for gulls to come and peck off parasites - a fascinating relationship if you ever get the chance to watch this happen - see my marine life photos for a sunfish being 'cleaned' by a gull.
It is a protected species and if caught must be returned dead or alive.
A summer visitor to UK waters and can often been seen swimming at the surface or laying flat on it side waiting for gulls to come and peck off parasites - a fascinating relationship if you ever get the chance to watch this happen - see my marine life photos for a sunfish being 'cleaned' by a gull.
It is a protected species and if caught must be returned dead or alive.
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Oceanic Pufferfish - Lagocephalus lagocephalus
A very rare visitor to UK waters preferring warmer climes. Incredibly toxic as the Oceanic Puffer produces a potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin. |
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Atlantic Grey Triggerfish - Balistes capriscus
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Pelagic Fish
Bass - Dicentrarchus labrax
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Mackerel - Scomber scombrus
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Atlantic Herring - Clupea harengus
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European Sprat - Sprattus sprattus
Sprats and small Herring are very difficult to tell apart. Sprats have spiked scales along their ventral keel - Herring do not. The spiked scales are just visible in this photo. Run your finger along its belly - if it feels spiky its a Sprat. In relation to the dorsal fin, the pelvic fins are set further back on a Herring compared to that of a Sprat, which sits closer inline with the leading edge of the dorsal fin. |
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Pilchard / Cornish Sardine - Sardina pilchardus
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European Anchovy - Engraulis encrasicolus
Not a common catch on rod and line in the UK but shoals occasionally turn up off the Devon and Cornwall coastline. |
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European Smelt - Osmerus eperlanus
An estuarine fish related to the Salmon. They travel upriver to freshwater sections to breed and spawn before returning to marine waters. They are a protected species in the UK and if captured must be returned dead or alive. |
Scad - Trachurus trachurus
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Garfish - Belone belone
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Greater Sand Eel / Launce - Hyperoplus lanceolatus
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Other Fish
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Conger Eel - Conger conger
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Red Band Fish - Cepola macrophthalma
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John Dory - Zeus faber
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Wreckfish / Stone Bass - Polyprion americanus
An occasional visitor to UK waters, often found near floating wreckage. |
Mini-Species
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Shore Clingfish / Cornish Sucker - Lepadogaster purpurea
A small intertidal fish, up to 80mm, often found underneath small rocks in or around rock pools. |
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Connemara Clingfish - Lepadogaster candollei
Up to 70mm - little is known about its habitat preference but can be found in the intertidal zone. |
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Two-Spotted Clingfish - Diplecogaster bimaculata
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Butterfish - Pholis gunnellus
A small fish, up to 25cm, often found in the intertidal zone but can occur down to 40m. |
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Common Dragonet - Callionymus lyra
The male (left) is often larger, up to 30cm, and much more colourful than the female (right), who can grow up to 20cm. The two photographed are engaged in courtship. |
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Spotted Dragonet - Callionymus maculatus
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Giant Goby - Gobius cobitis
A large species of Goby which is particularly rare in the UK with its northern range just reaching up into Devon. Can be found at a few sites in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and could potentially be caught whilst wrasse fishing or lrf fishing.
It is a protected species and if caught must be returned dead or alive.
A large species of Goby which is particularly rare in the UK with its northern range just reaching up into Devon. Can be found at a few sites in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and could potentially be caught whilst wrasse fishing or lrf fishing.
It is a protected species and if caught must be returned dead or alive.
Long Spined Scorpionfish - Taurulus bubalis
Not poisonous even if their common name suggests otherwise!
Not poisonous even if their common name suggests otherwise!
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Pogge / Hook-Nose / Armoured Bullhead - Agonus cataphractus
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Greater Pipefish - Syngnathus acus
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All photos used on this site are owned by Liam Faisey unless otherwise stated.
If you would like to use any of my images please contact me first, unless they already contain copyright information - if an image is used please ensure copyright statements are not cropped out and are fully and clearly legible to viewers.
If you would like to use any of my images please contact me first, unless they already contain copyright information - if an image is used please ensure copyright statements are not cropped out and are fully and clearly legible to viewers.
