Note :: It is quite a large image so may take a while to download.

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1. Sharkatag on Sea Watch UK
2. LoL – The end of the rainbow
3. 2010 YTD NEWSLETTER AND SHARKATAG REVIEW

If you have a picture of yourself with a Blackmouth Dogfish and want to show it off on this page please send it to contact@ssacn.org or post it on the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme’s Facebook page! Remember to keep checking www.tagsharks.com to make sure you don’t miss your chance to show off your PB shark, skate or ray!

Biology

Other Names: Galeus melastomus, Blackmouth Catshark

Description: Blackmouth’s are a slender dogfish with a distinct marbled brown dorsal surface. The inside of the mouth is black in colour, giving the fish its name. Blackmouth Dogfish have two small, rounder dorsal fins and long, almost continuous ventral fins. The tail of the dogfish is long and compressed with a very small lobe.

Maximum Size: 80cm

Habitat: Blackmouth Dogfish are found over a wide range of sea beds but generally in deep water areas, as such Blackmouth’s are generally caught over muddy sea beds.

Depth: 55-3,850m, juveniles are often found in shallower waters than adults but are very rarely found in waters less than 50m deep.

Distribution: Generally found offshore around the Scottish coast or close to shore in deep water areas.

Feeding: Blackmouth Dogfish are opportunistic predators and scavengers; they feed mainly on small crustaceans, squid and fish.

Biology: Males mature at 48-79cm and females at 56-79cm, age at maturity is unknown. Blackmouth Dogfish are oviparous (egg-laying); females lay up to 13 eggs after mating. Mating and egg laying is found to occur all year round but the frequency of reproduction is not know, it is estimated that mature females may lay 60-100 eggs per year. Blackmouth Dogfish egg cases are deposited on muddy sea beds in relatively shallow waters, the eggs are around 3.5-6.5cm in length and vase shaped (tapering at both ends) with very small horns.

Caution: Relatviely harmless though they do have rough skin and small, sharp teeth.

Current Fishery: Blackmouth Dogfish are generally not targeted commercially due to their low economic value though are occasionally taken as bycatch in deep water fisheries for human consumption.

Conservation Status: Least concern. However relatively little is known about this deep-water shark.

GFAC Size: The release of Blackmouth Dogfish is recommended by the SSTP.

Tagging: Blackmouth Dogfish are not currently tagged under the SSTP, however capture of Blackmouth’s should be reported to the SSTP in the same way as undersized fish.

Targeting Blackmouth Dogfish in Scotland

Tackle: Although Blackmouth Dogfish are generally small they are often found in very deep water, this means that weather and tide conditions rather than the fish itself are likely to influence tackle selection. In general a 6-12lb class boat rod is suitable.

End Tackle: Small shrimp rigs or flapper rigs with barbless size 4 hooks are suitable for Blackmouth Dogfish. The fish are generally small and will pick up small baits.

Bait: Popular baits include small strips or squares of mackerel, sandeel and squid.

Tactics: Blackmouth Dogfish are generally found in deep water, using braid eliminates line stretch and will show bites clearly even in water over 200m deep.

Related posts:

1. EU agree zero TAC for deep water sharks
2. Greater protection for Scotland’s sharks
3. Avoiding stress in rays and skates

If you have a picture of yourself with a Starry Smoothhound and want to show it off on this page please send it to contact@ssacn.org or post it on the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme’s Facebook page! Remember to keep checking www.tagsharks.com to make sure you don’t miss your chance to show off your PB shark, skate or ray!

Biology

Other Names: Mustelus asterias

Description: Slender shark with grey/sandy brown dorsal surface, white ventral surface and two large dorsal fins. Starry Smoothhound have varying degrees of small white spots on the dorsal surface. Unlike Tope, Starry Smoothhound do not have a prominent lobed tail and have crushing pads rather than sharp triangular teeth.

Maximum Size: 140cm

Habitat: Starry Smoothhound are bottom dwellers and are generally found over soft sand, mud or gravel sea beds though in some areas they may be found over rougher rocky sea beds.

Depth: Shallows to 100m.

Distribution: Most common around the south west coast of Scotland. Increasing numbers of Starry Smoothhound in more northern areas of the west coast of Scotland over recent years have suggested a possible northern migration of the species.

Feeding: Smoothhound are active predators and feed mainly on crustaceans including shore crabs, hermit crabs, prawns and shrimp.

Biology: Males mature at around 75cm (2.8lb); females mature at around 85cm (4.2lb). Age at maturity is unknown. Starry Smoothhound are ovoviviparous, this means that eggs hatch and develop inside the female fish. Females give birth to 10-35 fully developed pups each year

Caution: Starry Smoothhound have strong jaws with crushing pads and abrasive skin.

Current Fishery: No targeted fishery though they are often taken in mixed trawls as by-catch.

Conservation Status: Least concern. Starry Smoothhound appear to be one of the few shark species whose abundance has remained relatively stable or increased in recent years.

GFAC Size: 80cm

Tagging: The minimum SSTP tagging size for Starry Smoothhound is 100cm (6.5lb). For advice on tagging sharks please refer to the SSTP tagging guide here.

Targeting Starry Smoothhound in Scotland

Tackle: From the boat a 6-12lb class rod and suitable reel loaded with 30lb braid is sufficient. From the shore a 5-6oz beach rod paired with a strong multiplier or fixed spool reel loaded with 15-20lb monofilament mainline will handle most Starry Smoothhound in Scottish waters.

End Tackle: A single strong size 2/0 to 4/0 barbless bronze hook with a 40-60lb monofilament hook length is sufficient for any Starry Smoothhound and will usually cope with small pack Tope that may take baits intended for hounds. Popular Starry Smoothhound rigs include pulley rigs, up ‘n’ over rigs and clipped down fixed paternosters. Clipped down rigs are particularly useful when fish are feeding at distance and a long cast is needed.

Bait: Peeler crab is the most popular and effective bait. Other baits include hermit crabs, prawns and live hardback crabs. Starry Smoothhound are opportunistic feeders and are occasionally caught on squid and worm baits.

Tactics: Starry Smoothhound movements usually coincide with crab peeling seasons, when temperatures rise and shore crabs begin to moult packs of Starry Smoothhound are rarely far behind. Fish often move closer inshore at night or after a strong onshore blow that colours the water. In many areas freshwater discharge to the sea through rivers after periods of rain will push Starry Smoothhound away from the coast. After casting it is important to release the drag on your reel: Starry Smoothhound takes are often aggressive and even a small hound is capable of pulling a rod from its rest.

Related posts:

1. Blackmouth Dogfish – Fishing and ID Guide
2. SSTP recommended tagging sizes
3. Irelands Smoothhounds

If you have a picture of yourself with a Cuckoo Ray and want to show it off on this page please send it to contact@ssacn.org or post it on the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme’s Facebook page! Remember to keep checking www.tagsharks.com to make sure you don’t miss your chance to show off your PB shark, skate or ray!

Biology

Other Names: Leucoraja naevus

Description: Small to medium sized ray with a sand coloured dorsal surface with two very distinctive black and yellow marbled "eyespots" on the wings. The ventral surface is white. Cuckoo Rays have blunt snout and rounded wingtips. Many fish have a row of small thorns in front of each eye, a large triangular patch of thorns on the shoulders and several rows of thorns along the spine and tail.

Maximum Size: 75cm

Habitat: Cuckoo Rays are generally found over soft sandy or muddy sea beds.

Depth: Shallows to 300m.

Distribution: Common on the north west coast of Scotland and the Outer Isles, occasionally caught around the south west coast.

Feeding: Cuckoo Rays are opportunistic feeders and scavengers. Adult fish feed mainly on crustaceans, worms and small fish.

Biology: Male and female Cuckoo Rays mature at around 60cm long (4-5 years old). Cuckoo Rays are oviparous (egg-laying); females lay 70-150 eggs each year. Egg cases are rectangular in shape with rounded corners with long horns at each corner, eggs are 5-7cm long and 3-4cm wide. The upper horns of a Cuckoo Ray egg case are often longer than the egg case itself. Eggs are laid inshore over sandy or muddy sea beds, after 8 months fully developed Cuckoo Rays around 12cm long hatch and begin to feed actively. There is uncertainty surrounding the maximum age of Cuckoo Rays though it is thought to be around 28 years.

Caution: Cuckoo Rays have several rows of sharp thorns on their dorsal surface around the eyes and along the spine and tail. Rays also have abrasive skin and strong jaws with crushing pads.

Current Fishery: No targeted fishery in Scotland though Cuckoo Rays are often taken as bycatch in mixed trawls for human consumption. Due to its small size, Cuckoo Rays are generally not targeted commercially.

Conservation Status: Least concern. Cuckoo Rays are generally not targeted commercially and appear to have a high recruitment rate (the number of fishing surviving from egg to adult) meaning populations have remained relatively stable in some areas and are thought to be increasing in some areas of western Scotland. However, in other areas Cuckoo Ray numbers appear to have dropped significantly.

GFAC Size: 60cm.

Tagging: The minimum SSTP tagging size for Cuckoo Rays is 50cm wingspan (5.25lb). For advice on tagging rays please refer to the SSTP tagging guide here.

Targeting Cuckoo Rays in Scotland

Tackle: From the boat a 6-12lb class rod and suitable reel loaded with 20lb braid is sufficient. From the shore a 4-5oz beach rod paired with a strong multiplier or fixed spool reel loaded with 12-15lb monofilament mainline is generally suitable.

End Tackle: A single strong size 1 to 2/0 barbless hook with a 40-50lb monofilament hook length is sufficient for Cuckoo Rays. Hooks should be matched to the size of the bait used and to cope with the chance of catching other species such as Thornback, Spotted and Blonde Rays when targeting Cuckoo Rays. Popular Cuckoo Ray rigs include 2-hook flappers, pulley rigs, up ‘n’ over rigs and clipped down fixed paternosters. Clipped down rigs are particularly useful when fish are feeding at distance and a long cast is needed. From the boat a simple running ledger rig with a short hook length is sufficient and minimises tangles.

Bait: Popular baits include mackeral, squid, sandeel, prawn and peeler crab.

Tactics: Although Cuckoo Rays are relatively small, care should be taken when using light tackle as it is not uncommon to catch other species such as Thornback, Spotted and Blonde Rays when targeting Cuckoo Rays.

Related posts:

1. Bull Huss – Fishing and ID Guide
2. Spotted Ray – Fishing and ID Guide
3. Volunteer Oppurtunity

If you have a picture of yourself with a Spotted Ray and want to show it off on this page please send it to contact@ssacn.org or post it on the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme’s Facebook page! Remember to keep checking www.tagsharks.com to make sure you don’t miss your chance to show off your PB shark, skate or ray!

Biology

Other Names: Raja montagui, Starry Ray, Homelyn Ray

Description: Small to medium sized ray with a sandy brown dorsal surface with many large dark spots that do not reach the edge of the wingtips. The ventral surface is white. Many Spotted Rays have a faint eyespot on each wing made up of a large pale spot bordered by small dark spots. Spotted Rays have a blunt snout and a single row of thorns alone the spine and tail.

Maximum Size: 80cm

Habitat: Spotted Rays are generally found over clean sandy sea beds.

Depth: Shallows to 530m.

Distribution: Common on the north west and reduced populations on the south west coast of Scotland and the Outer Isles.

Feeding: Juvenile Spotted Rays feed mainly on small crustaceans. Adult fish are more opportunistic and feed on crustaceans, worms and small fish.

Biology: Male and female Spotted Rays mature at around 55cm (3-8 years old). Spotted Rays are oviparous (egg-laying); females lay 60-70 eggs each year. Egg cases are rectangular in shape and around 8cm long and 3-5cm wide with long horns at each corner. Spotted Ray egg cases do not have keels (wide, flattened edges). Eggs are laid inshore between April and July, after 5-6 months fully developed Spotted Rays hatch and begin to feed actively. Spotted Rays may live for up to 14 years.

Caution: Spotted Rays have a row of sharp thorns on their dorsal surface along the spine and tail. Rays also have abrasive skin and strong jaws with crushing pads.

Current Fishery: No targeted fishery in Scotland though Spotted Rays are often taken as bycatch in mixed trawls for human consumption. Due to its small size, Spotted Rays are generally not targeted commercially.

Conservation Status: Least concern. Spotted Rays are generally not targeted commercially and appear to have a high recruitment rate (the number of fishing surviving from egg to adult) and as a result Spotted Ray populations in many areas have remained relatively stable. However, in other areas Spotted Ray numbers have dropped significantly.

GFAC Size: 55cm

Tagging: The minimum SSTP tagging size for Spotted Rays is 50cm wingspan (5.25lb). For advice on tagging rays please refer to the SSTP tagging guide here.

Targeting Spotted Ray in Scotland

Tackle: From the boat a 6-12lb class rod and suitable reel loaded with 30lb braid is sufficient. From the shore a 4-5oz beach rod paired with a strong multiplier or fixed spool reel loaded with 12-15lb monofilament mainline is suitable.

End Tackle: A single strong size 1/0 to 3/0 barbless hook with a 50lb monofilament hook length is sufficient for Spotted Rays. Hooks should be matched to the size of the bait used and to cope with the chance of catching larger species such as Thornback and Blonde Rays when targeting Spotted Rays. Popular Spotted Ray rigs include 2-hook flappers, pulley rigs, up ‘n’ over rigs and clipped down fixed paternosters. Clipped down rigs are particularly useful when fish are feeding at distance and a long cast is needed. From the boat a simple running ledger rig is sufficient and minimises tangles.

Bait: Popular baits include mackeral, squid, sandeel, prawn and peeler crab.

Tactics: Although Spotted Rays are relatively small, care should be taken when using light tackle as it is not uncommon to catch other species such as Thornback and Blonde Rays when targeting Spotted Rays.

Related posts:

1. Cuckoo Ray – Fishing and ID Guide
2. Bull Huss – Fishing and ID Guide
3. SSTP recommended tagging sizes

If you have a picture of yourself with a Blonde Ray and want to show it off on this page please send it to contact@ssacn.org or post it on the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme’s Facebook page! Remember to keep checking www.tagsharks.com to make sure you don’t miss your chance to show off your PB shark, skate or ray!

Biology

Other Names: Raja brachyura

Description: Large ray with a sandy brown dorsal surface with some large light spots and many small dark spots that always reach the very edge of the wingtips. The ventral surface is white. Blonde Rays have a blunt snout and often have rows of thorns alone the spine and tail.

Maximum Size: 120cm

Habitat: Blonde Rays are generally found over soft sea beds including clean sand and mud.

Depth: Shallows to 900m though generally <100m.

Distribution: Common on the north west coast of Scotland and the Outer Isles, Blonde Rays are occasionally caught around the south west coast though have become rarer in recent years.

Feeding: Blonde Rays are opportunistic predators and feed mainly on crabs, shrimp, squid, shellfish and small fish. Juveniles feed mainly on small shrimp; adult fish feed mainly on squid, sandeel, small fish and shrimp.

Biology: Male and female Blonde Rays mature at 8-10 years old at around 85-92cm long. Blonde Rays are oviparous (egg-laying); females lay 40-140 eggs each year. Egg cases are rectangular in shape and around 9cm long with horns at each corner, the upper horns are longer than the lower horns. Eggs are laid inshore between February and August, after around 7 months fully developed 20cm long Blonde Rays hatch and begin to feed actively. Blonde Rays may live for 50-100 years.

Caution: Blonde Rays have a row of sharp thorns on their dorsal surface along the spine and tail and often have thorns on the wings. Rays also have abrasive skin and strong jaws with crushing pads.

Current Fishery: No targeted fishery in Scotland though Blonde Rays are often taken as bycatch in mixed trawls for human consumption.

Conservation Status: Near threatened. Blonde Rays are vulnerable to depletion by overfishing due to their slow growth rate and low levels of reproduction.

GFAC Size: 100cm

Targeting Blonde Rays in Scotland

Tagging: The minimum SSTP tagging size for Blonde Rays is 50cm wingspan (5.25lb). For advice on tagging rays please refer to the SSTP tagging guide here.

Tackle: From the boat a 12-20lb class rod and suitable reel loaded with 30lb braid is sufficient. From the shore a 5-6oz beach rod paired with a strong multiplier or fixed spool reel loaded with 15-20lb monofilament mainline will handle most Blonde Rays in Scottish waters.

End Tackle: A single strong size 3/0 to 5/0 bronze barbless hook with a 60lb monofilament hook length is sufficient for Blonde Rays. Hooks should be matched to the size of the bait used and to cope with the chance of catching other species such as Thornback Rays when targeting Blonde Rays. Popular Blonde Ray rigs include pulley rigs, up ‘n’ over rigs and clipped down fixed paternosters. Clipped down rigs are particularly useful when fish are feeding at distance and a long cast is needed. From the boat a simple running ledger rig with a short hook length is sufficient and minimises tangles.

Bait: Popular baits include mackeral, squid, sandeel and herring.

Tactics: Blonde Rays are often found in the same areas as Spotted and Thornback Rays and as such are often caught when targeting other species.

Related posts:

1. Cuckoo Ray – Fishing and ID Guide
2. Spotted Ray – Fishing and ID Guide
3. Sharkatag on Fishing TV –watch for free

If you have a picture of yourself with a Tope and want to show it off on this page please send it to contact@ssacn.org or post it on the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme’s Facebook page! Remember to keep checking www.tagsharks.com to make sure you don’t miss your chance to show off your PB shark, skate or ray!

Biology

Other Names: Galeorhinus galeus

Description: Tope are a slender shark with a sandy brown to grey dorsal surface and pale white ventral surface. Unlike Smoothhound, Tope have a prominent lobed tail and sharp, triangular teeth. Juvenile tope often have dark tips on their fins though this generally fades as the fish grows.

Maximum Size: 210cm

Habitat: Tope are found inshore on the south west and west coast of Scotland over a range of soft and rough sea beds during the spring and summer; in the winter the fish migrate offshore to deeper waters. SSTP tagging returns have shown the Tope winter off the Bay of Biscay and the Azores. Tope are often found far offshore on the continental shelf but never oceanic.

Depth: Surface to 550m.

Distribution: Most common around the south west and north west coasts of Scotland. Tope are relatively rare along the east coast of Scotland although they are often found offshore in the North Sea.

Feeding: Tope are an extremely active predator and feed on a wide range of prey including mackerel, whiting, dabs, coalfish, flounder, eels and squid. Smaller pack Tope will also feed on shrimp, prawns and crabs.

Biology: Males mature at 8-9 years old at around 120-170cm (14.5-36.8lb); females mature at 11-12 years old at around 130-185cm (21.3-69.4lb). Tope length (cm) can be easily converted to weight (lb) using the SSTP weight calculator. Tope are ovoviviparous, this means that the eggs hatch and develop inside the female fish. Females give birth to 6-52 fully developed 30-35cm long pups every 2-3 years (on average around 20 pups every 2-3 years in European Tope). The number of pups increases with the size of the female fish. Pups spend 1 or 2 years close to shore before moving further offshore in packs determined by sex and size. Tope may live for up to 55 years.

Caution: Tope have strong jaws, extremely sharp teeth and abrasive skin. More information on safely handling sharks is available here. For information on handling Tope check out our Codes of Best Practice.

Current Fishery: Cannot be landed in Scotland. Recreational fishing for Tope in Scotland must be on a catch and release basis.

Conservation Status: Vulnerable/endangered. Tope have an extremely low intrinsic rebound potential compared to many other sharks, this means that Tope populations are particularly susceptible to depletion by overfishing.

GFAC Size: Release of Tope is required by law in Scotland.

Targeting Tope in Scotland

Tagging: The minimum SSTP tagging size for Tope is 100cm (10.0lb). For advice on tagging sharks please refer to the SSTP tagging guide here.

Tackle: From the boat a 6-12lb or 12-20lb class rod (dependant on water depth and tide) paired with a strong lever drag multiplier loaded with 30lb braided line. Lever drags are used as drag adjustments take much longer using a star drag multiplier and this delay can result in deep hooked fish.

End Tackle: A single strong size 6/0 bronze barbless hook crimped to a 12 inch 150lb wire biting trace is recommended. A 6 foot rubbing leader of 150lb monofilament line protects against abrasion and allows fish to be handled more easily at the surface.

Bait: Live or dead fish baits are most effective. Small mackerel or whiting make excellent live-baits and can encourage a take when Tope are proving fussy. Proven dead-baits include mackerel, whiting, dabs and coalfish. Dead-baits should be cut in half to release blood and oils to attract Tope. Other effective baits include squid, launce, herring and sections of eel. In most cases it helps to match baits to what packs of Tope will be feeding on naturally in the area.

Tactics: Further information on fishing for Tope can be found on our dedicated Tope Fishing Page. Lowering a rubby-dubby bag of chopped fish to the sea bed will attract predators including Tope. Bites range from subtle knocks to aggressive runs that will tear yards of line from the reel; runs should be struck early to avoid deep hooking fish. In difficult conditions Tope can be coaxed by using a light weight and allowing baits to drift away from the boat with the tide. Dropped runs are a common occurrence when Tope fishing though fish can often be provoked to attack the bait again by slowly retrieving and twitching the bait towards the boat. When Tope are particularly finicky – and Lesser Spotted Dogfish are not a problem – small fillets of fish bait can prove successful.

Related posts:

1. Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) confirmed after review
2. Sharkatag on Fishing TV –watch for free
3. Bull Huss – Fishing and ID Guide

If you have a picture of yourself with a Common Skate and want to show it off on this page please send it to contact@ssacn.org or post it on the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme’s Facebook page! Remember to keep checking www.tagsharks.com to make sure you don’t miss your chance to show off your PB shark, skate or ray!

Biology

Other Names: Dipturis batis, Dipturis cf. flossada, Dipturis cf. intermedia. Although many anglers treat Common Skate as one species, there are in fact two species referred to as Common Skate: D.flossada and D.intermedia.

Description: Very large skate with a grey to brown dorsal surface often with small light coloured spots. The ventral surface is pale grey to white with many mucus pores that often look like small dark spots and lines. Common Skate have a long pointed snout and often have two rows of thorns along the tail. Some fish (in particular juveniles) may have an eyespot on each wing, this generally fades with age as the Skate grows.

Maximum Size: 285cm

Habitat: Common Skate are found over a wide range of sea beds though generally prefer soft sand, gravel or mud areas.

Depth: Shallows to 600m.

Distribution: Frequently found around the west coast of Scotland and the Outer Isles.

Feeding: Common Skate are opportunistic predators and scavengers and feed mainly on fish, small sharks and rays, crustaceans, squid and shellfish. Common Skate generally hunt on the sea bed though they will venture into the water column where they hunt fish such as herring and scad.

Biology: Males mature at 11 years old at around 150cm long (47-60lb); females mature at 11 years old at around 180cm long (107-135lb). Common Skate length and wingspan (cm) can be easily converted to weight (lb) using the SSTP weight charts found here. Common Skate are oviparous (egg-laying); females lay up to 40 eggs every second year. Common Skate eggs are around 25cm long and 15cm wide, they are deposited in sandy areas and are left loose on the sea bed. After 2-5 months fully developed 21-22cm Common Skate hatch and begin to feed actively. Common Skate may live for 50-100 years.

Caution: Common Skate have extremely strong jaws and rough skin. Some fish may have rows of large, sharp thorns along the tail.

Current Fishery: It is illegal to land Common Skate in the EU.

Conservation Status: Critically endangered. Common Skate are very vulnerable to depletion by overfishing due to their slow growth rate and low levels of reproduction. Common Skate populations have decreased significantly and the species is considered locally extinct in some areas.

GFAC Size: Release of Common Skate is required by law in Scotland.

Tagging: The minimum SSTP tagging size for Common Skate is 55cm wingspan (5.3lb). For advice on tagging skate please refer to the SSTP tagging guide here.

Targeting Common Skate in Scotland

Tackle: Minimum of 50lb class boat outfit though an 80lb outfit is often more suitable. Rods should be paired with a strong multiplier reel loaded with a minimum of 70lb braided line. Braid increases bite detection when fishing deep water and reduces drag in the water column allowing smaller lead weights to be used.

End Tackle: Above all, Common Skate gear and components must be strong. A single size 12/0 to 14/0 bronze barbless O'Shaugnessy hook is a very popular choice for Common Skate fishing. Hooks should be crimped to 2-3 foot of 250lb monofilament and a 200lb swivel using double barrel brass crimps and fished as a running ledger/slider rig. A further 10 foot length of 250lb monofilament should be used above the hook length as a rubbing leader. The short hook length minimises tangles and reduces the number of deep hooked fish. See http://www.tagsharks.com/common-skate-rig. Given the depth of water Common Skate are often found in it is not unusual to use lead weights of up to 2kg.

Bait: Large mackerel, coalfish and squid baits are most effective. Bait sizes range from a single small fish to several mackerel or a single large coalfish.

Tactics: Common Skate fishing often involves battling 100lb-plus fish in over 400 feet of water with strong tidal currents, as such it is important that all gear and end tackle is strong and that butt pads and harnesses are available for the anglers comfort. When Skate fishing, always have your unhooking equipment (t-bar, pliers, gloves, line cutters and tagging equipment) close to hand, this streamlines the unhooking and tagging process and minimises stress to both the fish and angler. Common Skate can often be released at the side of the boat using a t-bar. If the fish has to be brought on board the boat a pair of stainless steel gaffs may be required to safely land fish. Gaffs should be placed around 10cm from the edge of the wing: our Common Skate Code of Best Practice provides some guidelines on safely handling and tagging skate. Common Skate should be returned to the water by laying the fish on a 2x2m section of heavy duty nylon netting to lift the fish safely. If you measure the wingspan and length of Common Skate the weight charts here can be used to calculate the weight of the fish in lbs.

Related posts:

1. Update – Common Skate Acoustic Tagging Project in the Sound of Jura.
2. Essential equipment for catching common skate
3. Common skate – fished to extinction ?

If you have a picture of yourself with a Spurdog and want to show it off on this page please send it to contact@ssacn.org or post it on the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme’s Facebook page! Remember to keep checking www.tagsharks.com to make sure you don’t miss your chance to show off your PB shark, skate or ray!

#3 Spurdog

Biology

Other Names: Squalus acanthias, Spiny Dogfish

Description: Dark grey/brown dorsal surface often with small white spots and a pale grey to white ventral surface. Spurdog have a large sharp spine in front of the first and second dorsal fins.

Maximum Size: 160cm

Habitat: Found over a wide range of habitats. Often found in deep water over soft muddy sea beds. Although Spurdog are generally considered a bottom dweller they are occasionally found mid-water when feeding on small fish.

Depth: Shallows to 900m.

Distribution: Found along the south west, west and north coast of Scotland, often in deep sea lochs. Spurdog are considered a migratory species and generally move offshore to deeper water during the winter, however anecdotal evidence and tagging data suggests that resident populations may exist in some of the deep water lochs on the west coast of Scotland.

Feeding: Spurdog are opportunistic feeders though their diet consists mainly of small fish and squid. Other prey species include crabs, prawns, shrimps and sea cucumbers.

Biology: Males mature at 11 years old at around 60-70cm (1.8-2.7lb); females mature at 18-21 years old at around 75-90cm (3.8-6.9lb). Spurdog length (cm) can be easily converted to weight (lb) using the SSTP calculator. Spurdog have a gestation period of 22-24 months (the longest of any vertebrate) and are ovoviviparous, this means that eggs hatch and develop inside the female fish. Every 2 years, females give birth to 1-20 fully developed pups around 20cm long. Spurdog may live for up to 70 years.

Caution: Spurdog have sharp spines in front of both dorsal fins that secrete a mild poison, sharp teeth and abrasive skin.

Current Fishery: Cannot be landed in Europe. Recreational fishing for Spurdog in Scotland must be on a catch and release basis. More information on safely handling sharks is available here.

Conservation Status: Critically endangered. Spurdog populations have been depleted by around 95% and are considered locally extinct in many areas.

GFAC Size: Release of Spurdog is required by law in Scotland.

Tagging: The minimum SSTP tagging size for Spurdog is 90cm (6.4lb). For advice on tagging sharks please refer to the SSTP tagging guide here. If you are interested in tagging the fish you catch please send an email to contact@ssacn.org. For more information check out SSACN's downloadable Spurdog Fact File!

Targeting Spurdog in Scotland

Tackle: From the boat a 6-12lb class rod and suitable reel loaded with 30lb braid is sufficient, braid will aid bite detection and allow the use of smaller lead weights in deep water. From the shore a 5-6oz beach rod paired with a strong multiplier or fixed spool reel loaded with 15-20lb monofilament is generally suitable though some people prefer to use a larger reel with 30-35lb monofilament to resist abrasion over rough ground.

End Tackle: Spurdog have sharp teeth and so require a heavy monofilament or wire hook length: an 80-150lb mono or 60-100lb wire hook length attached to a single size 3/0 to 6/0 bronze barbless hook is recommended. From the boat two hook flowing traces are often used; from the shore pulley rigs and clipped down fixed paternoster rigs are popular particularly when a long cast is required.

Bait: Fish and squid baits are most effective. Large cocktails of mackerel, sandeel, bluey, whiting and squid are extremely effective. Spurdog are active predators and will readily take live baits. In many areas small whiting make excellent live baits for big Spurdog.

Tactics: In the deep water of some Scottish sea lochs Spurdog can be caught during the day, however many shallow marks are considerably more productive in darkness. Spurdog are an inquisitive shark and can be attracted to bait using luminous beads, muppets or hokkais positioned above hooks: luminous attractors should be charged up using a torch before each cast. Baits will often be taken up by small Spurdog, whiting and lesser spotted dogfish: if this is the case using a small whiting as live bait can help pick out the larger Spurdog.

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Access is obtained from Taynuilt village via the B845 road that runs down to the loch via the old Iron Foundry. Excellent views can be seen from Google Earth.

Launch and recovery from the stony beach is available at all states of the tide, but a 4WD vehicle is essential at most times. There is very little tidal movement in the loch compared to the open sea, but launching or recovering an hour either side of low water will require a drive down the beach of maybe 70 or 80 yards, and then maybe a further 30 yards into a foot of water before it drops off very steeply straight down to 180ft.

The beach is largely clear, but a few boulders do exist, as does a cable that runs parallel with the stone pier about 20yds out for the full length. The main hazard is a pile of rocks near the end of the pier which used to have a metal pole sticking out from them, but this has now gone. It’s clearly visible over the bottom half of the tide.

If a newcomer to the area, launch and recover right next to the stone jetty and keep this line until you are clear of the moored boats.

Parking is ok, drive right up the beach until you can go no further, but be considerate of others please as there may be quite a few other anglers using the facility too !

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3. Loch Etive ICZM Public Consultation