Saltwater · Late spring through autumn
Atlantic Wolffish
Anarhichas lupus
A powerful rock-den fish with crushing jaws from the Norwegian fjords. Status note: in Canada this species is listed as Special Concern (COSEWIC/SARA) — Canadian anglers should check the rules and release fish; the Norwegian fjord fishery is its main seat in this guide. Prized for firm, sweet flesh, its jaws demand respect — a landed wolffish can bite hard enough to punish careless hands.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Long eel-like body with a huge blunt head and steep forehead
- Large protruding canine teeth at the front of the jaws, visible even with the mouth closed
- Mottled grey-brown to olive skin with darker banding, thick and smooth
- Long continuous dorsal fin running nearly the whole back, no separate pelvic fins
- Powerful crushing molar plates at the back of the mouth
Habits
- Solitary and territorial around rocky dens and boulder cover
- Crushes sea urchins, crabs, whelks and clams with molar-like back teeth
- Handle with great care: the jaws are enormously powerful and a landed wolffish can bite hard through boots and gloves
- Both parents guard the egg mass through winter until hatching
- Most active feeding in summer and autumn after the spawning season
Distribution
Where to find them
- Deep rocky grounds in northern Norwegian fjords
- Boulder fields off Finnmark
- Newfoundland shelf edges where rules require release
Where they live
How to catch them
Heavy bottom fishing over boulder fields Boat
Rig: Single 8/0-10/0 hook on a heavy paternoster with a 12-20 oz lead, lowered over rock and boulders
Bait/lure: Whole crab or large mussel-and-fish cocktails
Key tip: Apply pressure the instant it bites and lift it clear of the rock — and never put fingers near the mouth.
Baited pirk on fjord rock Boat
Rig: Heavy pirk with a single large hook, baited with fish and worked with slow lifts and drops beside deep rock edges
Bait/lure: Heavy pirk baited with mackerel or herring
Key tip: Fish slowly and keep the pirk on the bottom; wolffish do not chase, they snap at baits by their den.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Heavy 6-7 ft boat rod
- Line: 40-60 lb braid
- Terminal: Single large strong hook on a heavy paternoster, wire or heavy mono trace
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 24-36 in (60-90 cm), about 5-15 lb (2-7 kg); large fish to 59 in (150 cm) and 40 lb (18 kg)
On the table
Excellent — firm, sweet white flesh, once a prized food fish; where protected in Canada, release instead of keeping.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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