Dab

Dab are a very common catch from around the British Isles and are caught nearly all year round. The fish tend to be a light brown and often have small, pale yellow spots across their backs with a white underside. Dab very rarely grow to over 1lb in weight whether caught from the shore or boat and most weigh only up to 8oz. Dab dislike rocky, uneven ground and tend to be found only on clean sand and mud beds. Dabs are often mistaken for small plaice and a sure way to spot the difference is to look at the lateral line on the top of the fish that runs from behind the head at the opening to the gills, On a Dab there is a distinctive curve behind the gill before it becomes straight again. On the Plaice, it is virtually straight, from the gill cover to the tail. Their diet is made up of small shrimp and crustaceans but they are not fussy feeders and will eat whatever they can find.Dabs are mainly found in shallow waters all around the UK coast on sandy open beaches. The Norfolk and Suffolk coastlines are renowned for their superb dab fishing.March through to end of August.Shore anglers in the north can catch cod all year round, but in the South, smaller cod, or codling, are considered a winter species.

Shore 2 Ib 9 oz 8 drm (1.177 kg)
Boat 2 Ib 12 oz 4 drm (1.248 kg)

Species Rating ★