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Three-Bearded Rockling | Fish Species Guide | Angling Direct
Three-Bearded Rockling
aka Gaidropsarus vulgaris
Another one of the rockling species, the three bearded rockling are scaleless and slimy, with a long eel-like body and long dorsal and anal fins but actually comes from the family of cod and haddock. Located mostly in shallow inshore waters on rocky or mixed ground, this fish tends to be distributed around the shore of the UK, Ireland and in European waters from the central Norwegian coast through to the North Sea. Three bearded rockling can be identified by their 3 prominent barbules around the mouth, orange/brown colouring and black spots.
Due to its scaleless skin, the three bearded rockling is very slimy when handled which has resulted with their common nickname by anglers being 'slug'.
Stats
Status
Habitat
Offshore on rocky areas, 100-120m deep, but also on soft bottoms.
Bait
Mackerel strips, fillets of sprat, sandeel & worm baits.
Native or Invasive
Native
Where
Found in the northeast Atlantic Ocean, along the central Norwegian coast, the North Sea and predominantly in British Isl
Catch Experience
Rockling offer little fighting on standard beach gear, ideal for junior and beginner anglers to target. The record for the largest shore-caught rockling is just 1lb, thus, it is unrealistic to expect a huge fight out of this smaller species, it is another species to tick off the list, however.
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