Spurdog
Shark
A slim grey shark with two dorsal fins, each preceded by a sharp defensive spine — the feature that gives it its name. Handle these spines with real care when unhooking.
Facts
- The sharp spines in front of each dorsal fin can cause a nasty puncture wound if mishandled.
- One of the longest-lived sharks relative to its size, and among the slowest to reach breeding age.
- UK and EU stocks collapsed so severely that landings were banned outright for years; some limited recovery has since allowed small quotas to reopen commercially.
UK fishing rules
Given the historic stock collapse and slow recovery, shore anglers should treat spurdog as catch-and-release only unless current guidance for your area explicitly says otherwise — check with your IFCA or the Marine Management Organisation before retaining any.
Where to catch Spurdog (2 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oban North Pier & Dunollie Point | Scotland | Jun–Sep | Bigger fish baits fished at range from rock marks like Dunollie Point |
| Warrenpoint Front Shore | N. Ireland | Summer | Bottom fished bait |