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Guide to Fish Species | Freshwater & Sea | Angling Direct
This species guide is designed as a helpful resource to anglers and anyone interested in freshwater and marine life. We have paid particularly close attention to factors like fish care and species vulnerability as well as information on habitat, behaviour and angling tips. Over time, we will be adding new species to the guide as well as making other improvements, so we welcome your feedback and suggestions.
All
Fresh Water
Sea Water
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Aka Thunnus thynnus
Status
Habitat
Found in cold and warm seas at depths ranging 500 - 1000m.
Where
Distributed throughout the Atlantic, with their spawning grounds in the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico.
Atlantic Salmon
Aka Salmo salar
Status
Habitat
Flowing river water, in small pools or depressions in the river bed.
Where
Throughout the North Atlantic, however, when migrating, salmon relocate to the upstream of rivers and streams.
Status
Habitat
Fast-flowing, clean river beds with hard bottoms and thick vegetation.
Where
Barbel are prominent in fast-flowing rivers throughout the UK, France, Holland and most Eastern European waters.
Bass
Aka Dicentrarchus labrax
Status
Habitat
Occupying shallow waters, estuaries and out into deeper waters.
Where
North Sea, along the Atlantic coastline of Europe. Bass also live on the south and western coasts year round.
Blue Shark
Aka Prionace glauca
Status
Habitat
Found in both inshore and offshore waters of at least 60m depths.
Where
Migrates to the UK for summer, mostly around the south coast. Main population in the Atlantic, Pacific & Indian Ocean.
Brown Trout
Aka Salmo trutta
Status
Habitat
Eddies, stumps, vegetation patches, islands, and merging currents.
Where
Barents Sea in the north, to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa in the south, stretching eastward to the Caspian Sea.
Chub
Aka Leuciscus cephalus
Status
Habitat
Deep holes in the margin or by overhanging bushes and trees.
Where
Rivers throughout Europe, from the Atlantic basins in the UK and south to the Adour in France, to around Stockholm.
Status
Habitat
Steep beaches, cliffs over sand or offshore in 600m deep waters.
Where
Across the Atlantic, North Sea and in deep UK and European waters. Some move to Scandinavian waters in the summer.
Common Bronze Bream
Aka Abramis brama
Status
Habitat
Shady weed beds, deeper areas of still water and slow-flowing rivers.
Where
Europe, north of the Alps and Pyrenees, as well as the Balkans. They are found as far east as the Caspian Sea.
Common Carp
Aka Cyprinus carpio communis
Status
Habitat
Shallow depths, margins of brackish waters or depths of the lake.
Where
Native to Asia, introduced throughout the world's freshwater waterways with the exception of Mongolia and the Sahara.
Common Skate
Aka Dipturus batis
Status
Habitat
Near muddy or sandy sea beds, between depths of 100m to 600m.
Where
British waters west of Scotland in particular, and Southwest Ireland, in the Celtic Sea and across the Atlantic.
Conger Eel
Aka Conger conger
Status
Habitat
In rocks and wrecks deep in the seabed, or seaweed covered rockpools.
Where
Coastal waters around the UK and Ireland, waters around the European mainland and in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Crucian Carp
Aka Carassius Carassius
Status
Habitat
Shallow pools in rivers, overgrown or swampy ponds and lakes.
Where
Throughout European freshwater, but rare in the UK and virtually non-existent in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Status
Habitat
Shallow waters, on sandy bottoms and up to a depth of 100m.
Where
Common around the UK and Ireland, but mostly found in the North Sea extending to Scandinavian waters.
Dace
Aka Leuciscus leuciscus
Status
Habitat
Surfacing on fast-flowing, well-oxygenated rivers around 0.5m deep.
Where
Canals that have an association with river navigations, in the UK and Western Europe, especially France.
Dogfish
Aka Scyliorhinus canicula
Status
Habitat
Found on sandy seabeds in shallow waters, no deeper than 50m.
Where
Shallow UK waters on the south and western coastlines, throughout the Mediterranean, and in Scandinavian waters.
Dover Sole
Aka Solea solea
Status
Habitat
Partially submerged into substrate, it lives on sandy or muddy seabeds.
Where
Temperate waters from the south of Norway to Senegal, in the Mediterranean. Sole migrates to the North Sea in winter.
Eel
Aka Anguilla anguilla
Status
Habitat
Dark, heavier coloured waters, over silt and mud, and amongst reeds.
Where
The Sargasso Sea as juveniles, followed by a trek inland into Europe's rivers. Eels return to the Sargasso Sea to breed.
Status
Habitat
Margins, drop-offs, overhanging trees, snags, high up in open water.
Where
Artificially bred and introduced in match venues across Europe, having been bred with match specimens in mind.
Fifteen-spined Stickleback
Aka Spinachia spinachia
Status
Habitat
Shallow coastal waters, sheltered rock pools, weed beds and estuaries.
Where
Common around the coasts of Britain and Ireland and extends its range throughout European waters too.
Flounder
Aka Platichthys flesus
Status
Habitat
At shorelines over muddy and sandy bottoms or in estuaries and creeks.
Where
British and Irish waters, but also extending into Northern European waters, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Grass Carp
Aka Ctenopharyngodon idella
Status
Habitat
Margins, drop-offs, overhanging trees, snags and open water.
Where
Not present at northern and southern extremities, but widespread throughout mid-latitudes in Europe and Asia.
Grayling
Aka Thymallus thymallus
Status
Habitat
Around slacks, eddies, vegetation, islands, merging currents in rivers.
Where
Throughout Northern Europe. Grayling can be found from France and the UK all the way to the east of Russia.
Grey Gurnard
Aka Eutrigla gurnardus
Status
Habitat
Muddy seabeds, offshore sandbanks and sandy bottoms down to 140m depth.
Where
Common in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, from Iceland and Norway down to Morocco, the Mediterranean and largely in the UK.
Status
Habitat
Harbours, estuaries and naturally sheltered coves and bays.
Where
Mediterranean and in smaller numbers in the Black Sea, along the Atlantic coast of Europe, as well as Southwest Britain.
Status
Habitat
Fast running water, riverbeds and gravel bottoms, by the water's edge.
Where
Mostly in England and Wales. Gudgeon also live in parts of Europe where the water quality is similar.
Haddock
Aka Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Status
Habitat
Steep-sloping, rocky beaches in deep water, over sand and mud.
Where
Found across Europe, common in cold deep water in the British Isles, Baltic Sea, and Iceland's coasts to Greenland.
Hake
Aka Merluccius merluccius
Status
Habitat
Open water, closer to the surface during the day, sea floor at night.
Where
Found in cold waters throughout the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding open waters of western UK and Europe.
Halibut
Aka Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Status
Habitat
Prefers waters at least 50m deep and found by deep water rock marks.
Where
Throughout the North Atlantic, particularly Norway, Faroes, Iceland and Southern Greenland, but also the Bay of Biscay.
Herring
Aka Clupea harengus
Status
Habitat
Rocky seabeds, in deep water during daylight, but rising as light levels fall.
Where
The North Sea, off the coast of Scotland and in Northern Irish waters and parts of eastern Europe.
Ide Fish
Aka Leuciscus idus
Status
Habitat
Found in upper layer of cloudy freshwater rivers and estuaries.
Where
Europe and Western Asia, distributed across colder freshwaters that drain into the North Sea or south of Scandinavia.
Leather Carp
Aka Cyprinus carpio nudus
Status
Habitat
Lake bottom or by reed beds, overhanging trees or vegetation.
Where
Introduced to most European freshwater fisheries, including France, Austria, Italy, the UK, and Portugal.
Status
Habitat
Offshore waters at around 15m deep, rocky, broken ground, near wrecks.
Where
North and west coast of the UK, extending their range through Icelandic and Scandinavian waters, across Europe.
Mackerel
Aka Scomber scombrus
Status
Habitat
Often found near structures such as piers or rocks in deep water.
Where
Northeast Atlantic from Norway to Morocco and the Canaries, and in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Minnow
Aka Phoxinus phoxinus
Status
Habitat
Inhabiting clean, well oxygenated streams, rivers, lakes and ponds.
Where
With 100 subspecies, they are commonly found in freshwater and saltwater streams worldwide.
Mirror Carp
Aka Cyprinus carpio specularis
Status
Habitat
Found in the margin, near drop-offs and by overhanging trees, snags.
Where
French, German, English, Dutch, Belgian, and Italian freshwaters, such as lakes, ponds, fisheries, and rivers.
Perch
Aka Perca fluviatilis
Status
Habitat
Overhanging trees, woodwork in the water, rush beds, inlets, outlets.
Where
At northern latitudes across a range similar to that of pike: throughout Europe, North America and Asia.
Status
Habitat
Undercut banks, tree roots, bridges or moored boats in slacking water.
Where
Northern latitudes, prevalent in Europe and North America, hence why pike are sometimes referred to as northern pike.
Plaice
Aka Pleuronectes platessa
Status
Habitat
In clear waters with little colour and sometimes found in estuaries.
Where
Denmark, Norway, UK and Ireland, mostly in the North Sea but are also caught in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Pollock
Aka Pollachius pollachius
Status
Habitat
Found over shallow, rocky water or open waters, 300m below sea level.
Where
Atlantic pollock are prolific along the coasts of Northern Europe and tend to stay near structures in deep water.
Rainbow Trout
Aka Oncorhynchus mykiss
Status
Habitat
Slacks, eddies, stumps or vegetation and merging currents on the river.
Where
Native to rivers that drian into the Pacific, rainbow trout are widely distributed across European rivers and waterways.
Status
Habitat
Sandy, muddy beds, near rock marks in warm subtropical waters.
Where
Warmer waters in the southwest of the English Channel and the Irish Sea, but avoid the cooler waters of the North Sea.
Red Mullet
Aka Mullus surmuletus
Status
Habitat
Found over sandy and shingle shelves or in calmer open water.
Where
Rare in the UK and European waters but when they do appear they can be found around the south of the British Isles.
Roach
Aka Rutilus rutilus
Status
Habitat
Near aquatic vegetation, at the bottom of a rivers and lakes.
Where
Found in freshwater lakes, rivers and large shoals in shaded areas. Distributed throughout Europe, Asia, stretching to S
Rudd
Aka Scardinius erythrophthalmus
Status
Habitat
Rivers and canals surfaces, by overhanging vegetation and weed beds.
Where
Widely spread throughout Europe and Central Asia, around the basins of the North, Baltic, Black and Caspian Seas.
Ruffe
Aka Gymnocephalus cernua
Status
Habitat
Fresh and brackish waters of lakes, rivers, estuaries, and ponds.
Where
Freshwater fish native to Eurasia, mostly found in the UK and across Europe, even extending its reach to US freshwaters.
Sand Sole
Aka Pegusa lascaris
Status
Habitat
Found in shallow waters around 30m deep, over sandy or muddy seabeds.
Where
Southern coasts of England, Wales and Ireland as well as parts of southern Europe extending to the Mediterranean Sea.
Sardine
Aka Sardina pilchardus
Status
Habitat
Often found around ports and piers and up to 240km offshore.
Where
Found anywhere there is deep water structures, from Iceland down to North Africa, and throughout the Mediterranean.
Sea Lamprey
Aka Petromyzon marinus
Status
Habitat
Near coastlines, or close to estuaries and easily accessible rivers.
Where
Native to the Atlantic Ocean, often found in Norway down to the Bay of Biscay and in the Mediterranean seas.
Sea Trout
Aka Salmo trutta
Status
Habitat
Rivers, brackish estuaries in winter, shallow sandy sea bottoms in summer.
Where
Commonly found across the Atlantic, almost reaching the south of Portugal after migrating from freshwaters.
Shore Rockling
Aka Gaidropsarus mediterraneus
Status
Habitat
In shallow waters no more than 60m, over rocks or by marine vegetation.
Where
Northeast Atlantic, from Norway to the west coast of the British Isles and Southwest Europe and North Africa.
Silver Bream
Aka Blicca bjoerkna
Status
Habitat
Turbid waters, boated canals or rivers and brackish waters.
Where
Europe, north of the Alps and Pyrenees, as well as the Balkans. They are found as far as east as the Caspian Sea.
Smelt
Aka Osmerus eperlanus
Status
Habitat
Found along shorelines or towards estuaries, even up rivers.
Where
UK and Ireland as well as parts of Europe, especially in Germany where lots of the smelt have moved to freshwater.
Smooth-hound
Aka Mustelus mustelus
Status
Habitat
Found in shallow waters ranging from 5m, over sandy light ground.
Where
South and west of the English Channel, around Ireland, continental Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Snake Pipefish
Aka Entelurus aequoreus
Status
Habitat
In shallow waters and estuaries camouflaged in seaweed or rockpools.
Where
Snake pipefish are present in the Northeastern Atlantic, including the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.
Sprat
Aka Sprattus sprattus
Status
Habitat
Open oceans, pelagic regions, coastal areas, estuaries and bays.
Where
Occupying open waters of the North East Atlantic, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Also on coasts across UK and Europe.
Spurdog
Aka Squalus acanthias
Status
Habitat
Found in deep water, spurdogs will move into shallower water to feed.
Where
Temperate waters on both sides of the Atlantic basin, as well as in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Status
Habitat
Thick mud, silt, vegetation, weed beds and marginal shelves.
Where
Common throughout Europe, North America and Asia. Tench are not found at latitudes south of the Equator.
Three-Bearded Rockling
Aka Gaidropsarus vulgaris
Status
Habitat
Offshore on rocky areas, 100-120m deep, but also on soft bottoms.
Where
Found in the northeast Atlantic Ocean, along the central Norwegian coast, the North Sea and predominantly in British Isl
Thresher Shark
Aka Alopias vulpinus
Status
Habitat
Found in deep waters during the day and at the surface at night.
Where
Highly migratory, they are found in tropical and temperate waters of the UK and Europe, by coasts and in the open ocean.
Tope
Aka Galeorhinus galeus
Status
Habitat
Found near headlands and offshore reefs that hold lots of baitfish.
Where
Found in temperate waters across Europe, in the Northeast Atlantic, the Mediterranean and waters around Iceland.
Triggerfish
Aka Balistes capriscus
Status
Habitat
Under floating weed, coral reefs and shallow water no deeper than 30m.
Where
Eastern Atlantic, and in the Mediterranean. they have spread northwards and are present as far north as the Hebrides.
Turbot
Aka Scophthalmus maximus
Status
Habitat
Muddy and mixed sea beds, roughly 1.2km offshore in 25m deep water.
Where
Found all around the coast of the UK, across European waters, throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Weever Fish
Aka Echiichthys vipera
Status
Habitat
Sea bottoms over sand or mud, usually buried partically to hide.
Where
Eastern Atlantic from the North Sea around the UK to Morocco and Madeira, and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Wels Catfish
Aka Silurus glanis
Status
Habitat
Dark spots, overhanging trees, weed beds, lilies, hollows in the bank.
Where
Originally Eastern Europe, but introduced in Western Europe. Nowadays they are widespread across Europe.
Whiting
Aka Merlangius merlangus
Status
Habitat
Sandy, muddy banks and shallow sea beds right at the edges of weed beds.
Where
Common throughout European waters such as the North Atlantic and mainly across the British Isles in cold seasons.
Wolffish
Aka Anarhichas lupus
Status
Habitat
Primarily stationary fish, rarely leaving their rocky habitats.
Where
Preferring low temperatures, wolffish swim in the North Atlantic, off the coasts of the UK, Iceland and Greenland.
Status
Habitat
Rocky shorelines in temperate, tropical and subtropical waters.
Where
Common in tropical, subtropical waters of the Atlantic and along South and South-Western coasts of England.
Yellowfin Tuna
Aka Thunnus albacares
Status
Habitat
Oil rigs, rock formations, offshore structures, or in open waters.
Where
All tropical and subtropical seas and oceans, bar the Mediterranean. They are sometimes caught in the North Sea.
Zander
Aka Sander lucioperca
Status
Habitat
Reservoirs, gravel pits and large rivers with well-oxygenated water.
Where
Across Eurasia, from the Caspian Sea in the east to the Ebro River in Spain. Zander were introduced to the UK.
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