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What fish can you catch in Guernsey?

What we catch through the year, the records, and some of the fish people have had. Ring me on 07781 104356 to pick your dates.

Through the season

What we usually fish for each month. Where we go on the day depends on the weather and the tide.

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Pollack
Turbot
Brill
Tope Released
Bass Released
Cod
Ling
Black bream
Conger

Under Guernsey rules tope go back alive, and so does any bass caught from a boat.

For November to January, give me a ring.

Records

BAILIWICK BOAT RECORD

Brill

Held by me, Richard Seager

BAILIWICK RECORD

Thornback ray

Roger Raedts from Belgium caught it south-east of Sark in July 2008. The record had sat empty since the list began in 1966.

Other big fish

  • 25 lb turbot, Bryn Swain from Jersey, Shoal Bank, June 2009
  • 22 lb turbot, May 2011
  • 21 lb pollack, Jeff le Gallez, west-coast wreck (Sea Angler, 2017)
  • 18 lb 4 oz thornback ray, Wayne Calladine, east of Sark, June 2009
  • 16‑10‑8 turbot, Deputy Mike O'Hara, off Sark, April 2009

Catches from the boat

A few out of the old galleries. Tap one to see it bigger.

Turbot and brill

  • An angler holds up a large turbot in St Peter Port Harbour
    Turbot
  • Six anglers hold turbot and brill over the sign-written stern
    Turbot and brill
  • Anglers on deck with a big haul of turbot and brill
    Turbot and brill
  • Eight anglers with turbot alongside a pier
    Turbot

Pollack and cod

  • An angler holds a pollack over the wake
    Pollack
  • An angler holds a big cod on deck
    Cod

Bass and tope, which go back

  • An angler holds a large bass against a blue sky
    BassEvery boat-caught bass now goes back
  • An angler holds a tope, a small shark
    TopeTope are always released

Bream, wrasse and others

  • A young angler holds up a black bream
    Black bream
  • A bright blue and orange cuckoo wrasse in the hand
    Cuckoo wrasse
  • A ballan wrasse held up, an island behind
    Ballan wrasse
  • A tub gurnard held up, an island behind
    Tub gurnard
  • A John Dory held up
    John Dory
  • An angler holds a bull huss
    Bull huss

Coming back in

  • Gulls over the wake as the crew clean the catch
    Gulls behind the boat

The ones that go back

Most of what you catch is yours to take home, but these go back alive.

  • Tope, which have to be released unharmed under Guernsey rules.
  • Any bass caught from the boat, every one of them.
  • Any ray I tell you to put back, such as small-eyed or undulate ray.

I'll show you how to unhook a fish and let it go.

…it was seriously exciting bringing in the fish , even better releasing them back to sea

Debbie H, TripAdvisor, August 2023

Picking your dates

Tell me what you're hoping to catch and I'll suggest some dates.

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