Saltwater · Late spring through autumn
Lesser-spotted Dogfish
Scyliorhinus canicula
Britain's commonest shore-caught shark — the 'doggie'. A small, harmless spotted catshark with sandpapery skin, feeding at night over sand and mixed ground and obliging on almost any fleshy bait. For many anglers it is a first-ever shark, and as 'rock salmon' it ends up in fish-and-chip shops.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Small slender shark densely covered in small dark spots
- Rough, sandpapery skin — dermal denticles make it abrasive to stroke backward
- Two dorsal fins set far back, the first above the pelvic fins
- No anal fin; long upper tail lobe
- Nostrils connected to the mouth by grooves, with small barbels
Habits
- Harmless to handle apart from its skin — rough and sandpapery, it can graze bare skin, so use a wet cloth
- Nocturnal bottom feeder on crabs, worms, prawns and small fish
- Lays egg cases — the 'mermaid's purses' that wash up on beaches
- Holds tight to the bottom by day in kelp and rock cover
- Bites are positive pulls; often the first shark new sea anglers catch
Distribution
Where to find them
- British rock and pier marks after dark
- Channel beaches over mixed ground
- Irish harbour walls and kelp edges
Where they live
How to catch them
Night shore fishing over mixed ground Shore
Rig: Running trace with a single 3/0 hook cast after dark from rocks, pier or beach over mixed ground
Bait/lure: Mackerel chunk or crab on a wide-gape 3/0 hook
Key tip: Fish after dark and give it time — dogfish mouth the bait before pulling away firmly.
Light boat bottom fishing Boat
Rig: Two-hook paternoster with 2/0 hooks over sand and shell near kelp reefs on light boat tackle
Bait/lure: Squid strips and fish chunks
Key tip: A light lead in the tide keeps baits in the feeding zone; bites are slow, heavy pulls.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Beachcaster or light boat rod
- Line: 15-25 lb mono
- Terminal: Flowing traces and paternosters, size 2/0-4/0 wide-gape hooks
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 20-30 in (50-75 cm), about 1-3 lb (0.5-1.5 kg); large fish to 39 in (100 cm)
On the table
Fair to good — firm flesh sold as rock salmon in fish-and-chip shops; skin must be removed, as it is rough and inedible.
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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