Dogfish (Lesser-Spotted)
Shark
A small, slender shark with rough sandpaper skin, a pointed snout and numerous small dark spots over a sandy-grey body — the commonest small shark encountered from UK shores.
Facts
- Despite the name, it's a genuine shark species, just a small one that poses no danger to anglers.
- Also lays 'mermaid's purse' egg cases, often anchored to seaweed with long curling tendrils.
- An extremely common by-catch on almost any bait fished hard on the bottom, day or night.
UK fishing rules
No statutory UK recreational size or bag limit currently applies to lesser-spotted dogfish.
Where to catch Dogfish (Lesser-Spotted) (38 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abersoch | Wales | Year-round, peak Sep–Nov | Fish strip or squid cast beyond the sandbar on a bigger tide. |
| Aberystwyth Stone Jetty | Wales | Oct–Feb | Bottom-fished lugworm or fish strip over sand/rock mix in colder months. |
| Amroth | Wales | Oct–Feb | leger tackle with worm or fish strip |
| Barry Island (Whitmore Bay) | Wales | Oct–Jan | leger tackle with worm or fish strip |
| Broadstairs Viking Bay | South East | Year-round | Fish bait on a simple running rig |
| Carrickfergus Harbour | N. Ireland | Winter | Bottom fished bait over sand |
| Chesil Beach (Ferrybridge, Dorset) | South West | Oct–Feb | Fish bait fished hard on the deck for reliable winter sport. |
| Christchurch Harbour (Mudeford Quay) | South West | Summer nights | Bottom fished fish strip near the harbour entrance |
| Criccieth | Wales | Sep–Mar | fish strip or squid on a simple leger through autumn and winter |
| Crooklets Beach | South West | All year | A reliable bycatch on any fish bait fished after dark. |
| Eastbourne Seafront | South East | All year | Any fish bait fished hard on the bottom |
| Holyhead Breakwater | Wales | Oct–Feb | Bottom fished lugworm or squid over broken ground in winter. |
| Kirkcudbright Harbour | Scotland | Jun–Sep | Bait fished hard on the bottom around the harbour and nearby rock marks. |
| Largs Pier & Shingle Point | Scotland | Jul–Sep | Bottom-fished mackerel or squid strip off the Shingle Point into clean ground. |
| Larne Lough Shore | N. Ireland | Year-round | Bottom fished bait |
| Llandudno Pier | Wales | Sep–Mar (historic) | Simple bottom rigs with worm or fish bait over sand near the pier legs. |
| Loch Linnhe Picnic Site, Lochaber | Scotland | May–Oct | Bottom-fished mackerel or squid strip from the platform, plentiful in numbers. |
| Looe Harbour & Banjo Pier | South West | Nov–Feb | Bait fished (lugworm) at night from the quay in winter. |
| Luce Bay (Sandhead) | Scotland | Apr–Oct | Bait fished (mackerel/squid strip). |
| Margate Harbour Arm | South East | Year-round | Fish bait fished hard on the bottom |
| Mumbles Pier | Wales | Apr–Oct (historic) | Mixed bag on standard bottom or float rigs around the pier structure. |
| New Quay | Wales | Jul–Oct | squid or fish bait fished after dark off the harbour wall |
| Northcott Mouth | South West | All year | Fish baits on the bottom |
| Penarth Pier | Wales | Apr–Oct | Mixed bag on standard bottom rigs or float tactics. |
| Portpatrick | Scotland | Apr–Oct | Bait fished (mackerel/squid) from the harbour and rock marks. |
| Portstewart Harbour | N. Ireland | Year-round | Bottom fished bait |
| Salcombe (Bolt Head) | South West | Apr–Oct | Float-fished crab/worm or bottom rigs over the rougher ground. |
| Sandymouth | South West | All year, heaviest in summer | Takes almost any fish or worm bait fished on the bottom after dark. |
| Saundersfoot | Wales | Oct–Jan | leger tackle with fish strip or worm |
| Sidmouth (Port Royal) | South West | Summer | Bottom fished ragworm or lugworm |
| Stranraer Harbour, Loch Ryan | Scotland | Jun–Sep | Bottom-fished mackerel or squid strip at Gerry's Point and Finnarts Bay. |
| Ullapool (Loch Broom) | Scotland | May–Sep | Bottom-fished bait (mackerel strip) from the harbour and shoreline. |
| Warrenpoint Front Shore | N. Ireland | Year-round | Bottom fished bait off the beach |
| Westward Ho! | South West | Year-round, peaks summer | Fish or squid bait on the bottom, reliable when little else is showing. |
| Whitehead Promenade | N. Ireland | All year | Fish bait fished on a running ledger at high tide |
| Whitstable Street | South East | All year | Any fish bait fished on the bottom around the harbour |
| Widemouth Bay | South West | All year | Any fish bait on the bottom |
| Woolacombe Beach | South West | Jun–Oct | Squid or mackerel bait fished hard on the bottom, day or night. |