Caution. Powerful bite: keep fingers away from its mouth and unhook with long pliers.
Usual size
60–120 cm
Maximum
300 cm
Where
Rock · Harbours and breakwaters
When
Indicative abundance from the shore in northern Spain
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
All year, mainly at night on breakwaters, harbours and rocky ground.
Natural baits
- Sardine
- Mackerel strips
- Whole squid
How to recognise it
Snake-like, scaleless dark-grey body with one continuous dorsal fin.
Tip
Heavy trace and a firm drag: once it gets into the rocks it is very hard to pull out.
Minimum size and rules by area
Galicia
Min. 58 cm
Asturias
Min. 58 cm
Cantabria
Min. 58 cm
Basque Country
Min. 58 cm
Fish are measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail; squid and cuttlefish by the mantle. If it is undersized, release it alive.
Official sources →