Pouting (Bib)
Fish
A deep-bodied, coppery-bronze member of the cod family with 3-5 faint dark bars across its flanks and a noticeably large eye relative to its body.
Facts
- Also called 'bib', pouting is one of the most common by-catch species on UK piers and rocky marks.
- Deteriorates in quality very quickly once caught, which is why it has a poor reputation as a table fish despite being edible fresh.
- Shoals densely around wrecks, reefs and harbour structure, often providing near-constant bites.
UK fishing rules
No statutory UK-wide recreational size limit currently applies to pouting.
Where to catch Pouting (Bib) (8 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesil Beach (Ferrybridge, Dorset) | South West | Oct–Feb | Fish bait fished hard on the deck for reliable winter sport. |
| Hartland Quay | South West | Nov–Feb | Bait fishing with fish strip on a simple paternoster from the harbour ledges in colder months. |
| Lee-on-the-Solent Seafront | South East | Oct-Mar | Standard rigs, best after dark |
| Lymington Town Quay & Pennington Wall | South East | Year-round, best autumn-winter | Fished from the Town Quay early morning or at night |
| Ramsgate Royal Harbour (East Pier & Harbour Arm) | South East | Oct-Feb | Bottom rigs with fish strip after dark |
| Salcombe (Bolt Head) | South West | Apr–Oct | Float-fished crab/worm or bottom rigs over the rougher ground. |
| Sandbanks | South West | Year-round | Ragworm on light bottom gear close in |
| Slapton Sands | South West | Oct–Feb | Worm/fish-strip cocktails fished on the bottom through autumn and winter. |