Where are the Smoothhounds in the UK?

There are a growing number of well-known smoothhound venues as the species expands its range northwards. Some offer more hounds than others, some have the bigger ones and even a longer season. Here are a few of the best known: Sussex & Hampshire: Selsey West Beach, Bracklesham Bay, Pagham and Hill Head.

Where can I find Smoothhounds?

When found in in inshore waters they tend to cruise at depths of around 2 metres (6½ ft).

• Best Locations. Smoothhounds can be caught across all of Britain’s shores, but the best catches are along southern shores and particularly south-eastern shores.
• Basic Leger Rig.
• Running Paternoster Rig.
• Boat Leger Rig.

Can you eat Smoothhounds?

You can eat the smoothhound, but many now consider the fish as one of the UK’s premier sporting species and it is rare to see one retained. Weigh the fish with care, take a picture and savour the fish making its way back to sea through the shallows and the memory will remain with you forever!

Can you catch Smoothhounds in the day?

“Time of day or the size of the tide doesn’t matter for smoothhounds here near Chapel St Leonards – the key factor is the weather; you need it calm and warm,” says George. “They don’t like the shallows when it’s rough.” The best time of year for smoothhounds is June to September.

Can you eat Smoothhound UK?

The good news is that almost every fish in UK waters is edible (although sand eel is edible but disgusting)….Can You Eat That?

Can you eat spurdog?

Spurdog is commonly sold as ‘rock salmon’, not LSD. While they make reasonable eating, spurdog are now so scarce that I wouldn’t touch them, any more than I would eat ray or tope.

What size hooks for Smoothhounds?

A single size 3/0 hook is more than adequate to hold on to a good smoothhound but, better still, it is very easy to unhook a fish without causing it too much damage. It may be better to match hook size to the size of bait – half a large peeler will attract the attention of a feeding fish.

Can you eat Tope UK?

In big demand and hunted around the world for their fins, Tope, also known as soupfin sharks, are becoming increasingly threatened. In European waters they are now protected and cannot be targeted but are occasionally legally caught as by-catch. Avoid eating this species and never eat shark fin soup.

Can you eat dogfish UK?

They have beautiful spotted skins that are covered in tough sandpaper like skin teeth. It is very difficult to remove this skin and as a result dogfish is rarely eaten in Cornwall and many fishermen use it as bait. It is however edible and sometimes marketed as ‘sweet William’.

Are Spurdogs poisonous?

They are one of the few venomous fish in UK waters (along with the stingray and weever fish), with the spines in front of the two dorsal fins secreting a venom which can cause swelling and discomfort in humans.

What is Tope fish?

Tope (Galeorhinus galeus) are a species of shark that can be found across the UK. They have the classic shark shape with a mouth full of sharp teeth to match. These are powerful fish with a body full of muscle and as a result they give an awesome fight on rod and line.

How do I stop catching dogfish?

The best way to unhook a dogfish is to firmly hold its tail alongside its head (as the picture above shows) which prevents it from trashing around and allows it to be unhooked easily.

Where can I go with smooth hound in the UK?

Use the clickable maps to travel instantly throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our listings provide comprehensive details of facilities offered, including AA and Tourist board ratings. Check us first for exclusive Smooth Hound discounts before booking anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Is the smooth hound the same as the common Hound?

Its feeding habits and distribution are the same as the common smooth hound. The shore caught record for this species was set in 1972 with a specimen of 23lb 2oz caught by D. Carpenter from Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex. Over the last few years there has been considerable debate over exactly which species of smooth-hound are present in British waters.

How big does a smooth hound dog get?

It should not be confused with the genus name Mustela, which is used for weasels. A smooth-hound can grow to 159 cm (5 ft. 3 in.) long and weigh more than 13 kg (29 lb). Currently, 28 recognized species are placed in this genus:

When is the breeding season for smoothhounds in the UK?

The breeding season is somewhat unknown but appears to fall into the period January to April. It’s interesting to note that the common smoothhound are actually less common in numbers in UK waters than the starry smoothhound are. Also, the two distinct types will often be swimming and feeding together.