Saltwater · Late spring and summer
Smooth-hound
Mustelus asterias
The summer shore star of southern Britain — a fast, clean-fighting smooth shark sprinkled with white star-spots, and almost always released. Its Mediterranean relative is the very similar M. mustelus, which accounts for most Mediterranean records.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Slender grey-brown shark with neat white spots scattered over the back and flanks — the 'starry' smooth-hound
- No spines in front of the dorsal fins, unlike the spurdog
- Blunt, pavement-like crushing teeth made for crabs, not biting
- Second dorsal fin almost as large as the first, set well back
- Tail with a short lower lobe; skin smooth compared with the rough dogfish
Habits
- Moves inshore in late spring and summer, often in loose packs
- Feeds mainly on shore crabs, hermit crabs and shellfish, most actively at night
- Pups are born live in shallow water in summer
- Takes baits hard and makes long, powerful first runs — a true shore sport fish
- Completely harmless to people; handle by the body and release quickly
Distribution
Where to find them
- Solent and Sussex shingle beaches in summer
- Ireland's east coast beaches and estuary mouths
- French Channel beaches at night in summer
Where they live
How to catch them
Beach casting crab baits on hard ground Shore
Rig: Pulley rig with a size 3/0 wide-gape hook and peeler crab, cast from shingle beaches over reef edges and scars
Bait/lure: Peeler or hermit crab
Key tip: Fish into darkness on a rising tide with the drag set loose — the first run of a smooth-hound is straight and long.
Light boat ledgering over sand and mud Boat
Rig: Downtide or uptide bottom rig with a size 3/0 hook and running lead over sand and mud
Bait/lure: Hermit crab, squid strip
Key tip: Trust the scent trail — smooth-hounds patrol the bottom in packs and one fish usually means more.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: 13 ft beachcaster or 12-20 lb boat rod
- Line: 15-18 lb mono from the shore with a strong trace; 20-30 lb braid from boats
- Terminal: Pulley rigs, size 2/0-4/0 wide-gape hooks, plain or grip leads
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 3-4 ft (90-120 cm) and 8-20 lb (3.6-9 kg); large fish to 4.6 ft (1.4 m) and 25 lb (11 kg)+
On the table
Fair to good fresh, but a valued sport fish that is almost always released in Britain — check local rules before keeping one anywhere.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Smooth-hound
Build today's plan