Coalfish (Saithe)
Fish
Dark grey to almost black along the back with a straight, pale lateral line and a small chin barbel, giving it a superficial resemblance to cod but in a slimmer, darker package.
Facts
- Also called saithe — a genuinely sooty-dark fish, hence 'coal' fish, especially as adults.
- Shoals hard around piers, rocks and harbour walls, and will readily take feathers, spinners or soft plastics.
- Young coalfish ('cuddies' in Scotland) are a classic first catch for kids fishing off harbour walls.
UK fishing rules
No statutory UK recreational size limit currently applies, though some anglers apply a voluntary minimum in line with pollack — check local IFCA guidance.
Where to catch Coalfish (Saithe) (40 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbroath Harbour & Cliffs | Scotland | Apr–Nov, peak autumn | Float fished or spun from the harbour walls and cliff marks. |
| Bangor Pier (Co. Down) | N. Ireland | All year, best Sep–Feb | Small feathers or soft plastics fished around the pier pilings and harbour walls, productive even in winter. |
| Beadnell Harbour | North East | Year-round | Feathers or spinners |
| Blyth South Harbour | North East | Year-round | Feathers or spinners off the pier |
| Bridlington South Pier & Harbour | North East | Oct–Feb | Fish strip fished hard on the bottom in the colder months |
| Broughty Ferry Pier & Castle Green | Scotland | Year-round, best autumn | Feathers or small lures worked off the pier end. |
| Campbeltown Harbour | Scotland | All year, best autumn | Small feathers or soft plastics fished deep off the wall. |
| Carrickfergus Harbour | N. Ireland | Spring–Autumn | Fished tight to rock ledges |
| Cushendun Beach | N. Ireland | Year-round | Bottom fished bait |
| Donaghadee Harbour | N. Ireland | Apr–Oct | Spinners or float-fished bait over rough ground behind the back wall |
| Dornoch Beach | Scotland | Autumn–winter | Small lures/feathers, though only light numbers reported |
| Filey Brigg | North East | Apr–Nov | Lures or float-fished sandeel worked over deeper marks off the Brigg's edges. |
| Freshwater West | Wales | Oct–Jan | Small lures or feathers worked among the rocky outcrops at either end of the beach. |
| Gourdon Harbour | Scotland | Year-round | Feathers or lures off the harbour walls. |
| Helmsdale Harbour | Scotland | Autumn–winter | Feathers/small lures tight to the harbour walls |
| John o' Groats Harbour | Scotland | All year, best autumn–winter | Feathers or small lures worked off the harbour wall, especially on the drop |
| Johnshaven Harbour | Scotland | Year-round | Feathers or small lures worked off the pier. |
| Kirkcudbright Harbour | Scotland | May–Oct | Small lures or feathers fished mid-water off the harbour wall. |
| Larne Lough Shore | N. Ireland | Year-round | Feathers or bait fished off the shore |
| Lochinver Harbour | Scotland | Autumn–winter | Feathers/small lures tight to the harbour walls |
| Marsden Bay | North East | May–Aug | Feathers or spinners off the ledges |
| Nairn Beach | Scotland | All year | Spinning close in |
| Oban North Pier & Dunollie Point | Scotland | All year | Spinning close to structure |
| Peterhead Harbour & Ugie Beach | Scotland | All year | Spinning close to the harbour structure |
| Portrush Harbour | N. Ireland | All year, best autumn/winter | Small feathers or soft plastics worked around the harbour walls and steps. |
| Redcar Esplanade & Scars | North East | Oct–Feb | Fish strip fished close to structure |
| Roker Pier | North East | Year-round, most consistent autumn/winter | Feathers/daylights fished mid-water, often mixed in with mackerel catches in summer. |
| Rothesay Pier, Isle of Bute | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Small hooks and bait fished at the ferry terminal, or lures off the marina breakwater. |
| Saltburn Pier | North East | Year-round, best autumn/winter | Small baited hooks or light lures fished close to structure. |
| Seaham Harbour | North East | All year | Fish strip fished close to the harbour structure |
| South Shields Pier | North East | Year-round | Feathers or small lures fished mid-water alongside mackerel in summer. |
| Stonehaven Harbour | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Float fished or spun in the harbour gullies rather than on feathers. |
| Thurso / Scrabster | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Float fished or spun around the harbour walls. |
| Tobermory Harbour, Isle of Mull | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Small lures fished mid-water around the harbour and pier. |
| Tynemouth Longsands | North East | All year | Fished close to the pier structure |
| Ullapool (Loch Broom) | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Float fished or spun close to the pier and harbour walls. |
| Whitburn Beach | North East | May–Aug | Feathers or float-fished strip off the rocks |
| Whitby West Pier | North East | Jun–Sep, also into winter | Feathers or small lures fished mid-water alongside mackerel, more consistent after dark. |
| Whitehead Promenade | N. Ireland | All year | Mackerel bait with float or running ledger rigs |
| Wick Harbour | Scotland | All year, best autumn–winter | Feathers or small lures fished tight to the harbour walls |