Garfish
Fish
Unmistakable: a long, thin, silver fish with an elongated beak-like jaw full of small teeth, and — unusually — bright green bones and blood, which is harmless but surprises first-timers.
Facts
- Related to flying fish, and capable of skittering along the surface at speed when hooked or chased.
- Feeds on small fish near the surface, which is why it's usually caught alongside mackerel on float tackle or feathers fished shallow.
- The green bones are caused by a harmless pigment (biliverdin) and don't affect the fish for eating.
UK fishing rules
No recreational size or bag limit currently applies in UK waters.
Where to catch Garfish (29 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberystwyth Stone Jetty | Wales | May–Sep | Lug, ragworm or mackerel strip fished around the rocky margins in summer. |
| Barmouth Bridge & Harbour | Wales | May–Sep | Float-fished sliver of mackerel or small spinners fished just under the surface off the harbour wall. |
| Bexhill Seafront | South East | May-Aug | Float-fished strip in the upper layers |
| Budleigh Salterton | South West | Jun–Aug | Float fished mackerel strip |
| Carrickfergus Harbour | N. Ireland | Jun–Sep | Feathers, especially around dusk under diving seabirds |
| Chesil Beach (Ferrybridge, Dorset) | South West | Jun–Sep | Feathers or spinners cast into clean water on the drop-off close in. |
| Clacton Pier | East | Jun–Aug | Float-fished strip over high water |
| Deal Pier | South East | May–Sep | Feathers off the pier head when the sea is settled |
| Dover Admiralty Pier | South East | May–Sep | Feathers or spinners cast into the harbour current |
| Duckpool | South West | Jun–Sep | Fished shallow under a float with a sliver of mackerel, same rock marks as the mackerel. |
| Eastbourne Seafront | South East | May–Sep | Float-fished baits or small feathers off the pier on light gear |
| Harwich Ha'penny Pier | East | Summer | Feathers or float-fished bait |
| Hastings Stade | South East | May–Sep | Feathers cast out beyond the fishing boats when the sea is settled |
| Hayling Island Seafront (South Beach/Eastoke) | South East | Summer | Float tackle at the Langstone Harbour entrance |
| Ilfracombe Pier | South West | Jun–Aug | Float-fished strip bait or small spinners near the surface in summer. |
| Mumbles Pier | Wales | Apr–Oct (historic) | Mixed bag on standard bottom or float rigs around the pier structure. |
| Newquay (Towan Beach) | South West | Jun–Sep | Feathers cast from the beach or harbour in summer. |
| Paignton Pier | South West | Jun–Sep | Feathers or float-fished strip from the pier rails |
| Portreath | South West | Jun–Sep | Feathers cast from the harbour walls in summer. |
| Prince of Wales Pier | South West | Jun–Aug | Float-fished near the surface in summer alongside mackerel. |
| Salcombe (Bolt Head) | South West | Jun–Sep | Feathers or spinners fished off the rocks in summer. |
| Saundersfoot | Wales | Jun–Sep | float-fished mackerel strip in season |
| Selsey Bill | South East | Jun-Sep | Feathers/float tackle |
| Shoreham Harbour Arms (East & West Arm) | South East | Jun-Sep | Float or feathers, best at night in high summer |
| Sidmouth (Port Royal) | South West | Jun–Aug | Float fished strip of mackerel |
| Slapton Sands | South West | Jun–Sep | Feathers or spinners, productive well into the evening in summer. |
| Southsea Seafront | South East | Jun–Sep | Feathers or float-fished fish strip from South Parade Pier and along the open beach. |
| West Bay | South West | Jun–Sep | Float fished with feathers or a strip of mackerel from the piers |
| Worthing Pier | South East | Mar-Sep | Float-fished strip, arrives late March and again in numbers come September |