Ultimate Guide to UK Coarse Fish Species
Coarse fishing in the UK offers a diverse array of species, each with unique characteristics and challenges. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a beginner, understanding these species is crucial for a successful fishing experience.
1. Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Appearance: Robust body with a large, downturned mouth and barbels at the corners. Common carp have golden-brown scales, while mirror carp possess fewer, larger scales.
Behavior: Bottom feeders; move in shoals in warmer months but can be solitary in cooler water. Known for their strength and endurance, making them a prized catch.
Best Fishing Times: Spring to autumn, with peak activity in warmer months. Early mornings and late evenings are most productive.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 8–15 lb (3.6–6.8 kg); specimen: 20+ lb (9 kg+); UK record: 68 lb 1 oz (30.9 kg), caught by Dean Fletcher on 13 January 2016 at Cranwells Lake, Wasing Estate, Berkshire.
Bait: Boilies, sweetcorn, hemp, pellets, and natural particles like tiger nuts. Larger pellets can be used as hook bait to target bigger fish.
Tactics: Bottom fishing with hair rigs; method feeders; pre-baiting swims with spod mixes or PVA bags to attract larger specimens. Night sessions often improve results.
2. Mirror Carp
Appearance: Similar to common carp, but with irregular, larger “mirror-like” scales and often a more pronounced body shape.
Behavior: Bottom feeders; tend to be wary of anglers. They often frequent deeper swims during hot summer months.
Best Fishing Times: Spring to autumn; early morning and evening most productive, but in summer, night fishing often yields better results.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 8–15 lb (3.6–6.8 kg); specimen: 20+ lb (9+ kg); UK record: 75 lb 2 oz (34.05 kg), caught by Wayne Mansford on 12 October 2020 at Meadows Lake, Holme Fen Fishery, Cambridgeshire.
Bait: Boilies, pellets, corn, and particles. Larger hook pellets or PVA-packed bait can help entice bigger mirrors.
Tactics: Hair rigs and method feeders; careful presentation is key due to their wary nature. Pre-baiting can increase your chances of landing a specimen.
3. Tench (Tinca tinca)
Appearance: Olive-green, slightly flattened head, small rounded fins, and a downturned mouth with small barbels.
Behavior: Bottom feeders; often slow-moving in weedy waters. Can be shy in clear water.
Best Fishing Times: Late spring to early autumn; dawn and dusk are peak feeding times. Tend to feed more confidently in warm, still water.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 4–6 lb (1.8–2.7 kg); specimen: 8+ lb (3.6+ kg); UK record: 15 lb 3 oz (6.88 kg), caught by Darren Ward in June 2001 at Sheepwalk Big Pit, Shepperton, Middlesex.
Bait: Worms, sweetcorn, small boilies, and pellet baits.
Tactics: Float fishing over weed beds, ledgering with cage feeders, or small PVA bags of pellet. Gentle presentation is essential.
4. Bream (Abramis brama)
Appearance: Deep-bodied, laterally flattened, silvery bronze-coloured with a slightly humped back; small mouth.
Behavior: Shoaling fish, mostly bottom feeders; can be wary but respond well to baited swims.
Best Fishing Times: Late spring to early autumn; mornings and evenings best. They can feed mid-water in very warm or cloudy conditions.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 4–6 lb (1.8–2.7 kg); specimen: 7+ lb (3.2+ kg); UK record: 22 lb 11 oz (10.3 kg), caught by Scot Crook in 2012 at Ferry Lagoon, Cambridgeshire.
Bait: Maggots, sweetcorn, small boilies, and groundbait.
Tactics: Feeder fishing over pre-baited groundbait; float fishing with maggots; careful feeding to keep fish active.
5. Perch (Perca fluviatilis)
Appearance: Elongated, slightly laterally compressed body; dark vertical stripes on the sides; red-orange pelvic and anal fins; spiny dorsal fin.
Behavior: Aggressive predators; often patrol near structures like weed beds, submerged logs, and rocks. Hunt small fish or invertebrates.
Best Fishing Times: Active year-round; spring and autumn are best for specimen-sized perch. Early morning and late evening often produce bites.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 1–2 lb (0.45–0.9 kg); specimen: 2+ lb (0.9+ kg); UK record: 6 lb 3 oz (2.8 kg), caught by Neil Stephen in 2011 at Stream Valley Lakes, Crowborough, East Sussex.
Bait: Worms, maggots, small fish, or artificial lures like soft plastics and small jigs.
Tactics: Float fishing for small perch, light ledgering, and lure fishing for larger individuals. Target structure edges.
6. Roach (Rutilus rutilus)
Appearance: Slender body with a silver sheen; red or orange fins; small, upturned mouth.
Behavior: Bottom feeders; often found in shoals.
Best Fishing Times: Late spring to early autumn; mornings and evenings best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 1–2 lb (0.45–0.9 kg); specimen: 2+ lb (0.9+ kg); UK record: 4 lb 3 oz (1.91 kg), caught by Dai Gribble in May 2024 at Brasenose 1, Linear Fisheries, Oxfordshire.
Bait: Maggots, sweetcorn, small boilies, and groundbait.
Tactics: Feeder fishing over pre-baited groundbait; float fishing with maggots; careful feeding to keep fish active.
7. Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)
Appearance: Golden body with red fins; slightly flattened sides; small upturned mouth.
Behavior: Surface feeders; often found in weedy areas.
Best Fishing Times: Late spring to early autumn; mornings and evenings best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 1–2 lb (0.45–0.9 kg); specimen: 2+ lb (0.9+ kg); UK record: 4 lb 10 oz (2.13 kg), caught by Simon Parry on 7 October 2001 at Clay Lake, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Bait: Maggots, sweetcorn, small boilies, and groundbait.
Tactics: Surface fishing with float rigs; ledgering near weed beds.
8. Chub (Squalius cephalus)
Appearance: Stocky body with a large, blunt head; silver-grey coloration; red or orange fins.
Behavior: Aggressive predators; often found near structures like fallen trees and undercut banks.
Best Fishing Times: Late spring to early autumn; mornings and evenings best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 4–6 lb (1.8–2.7 kg); specimen: 7+ lb (3.2+ kg); UK record: 9 lb 5 oz (4.2 kg), caught by Andy Maker in June 2007 at a southern stillwater.
Bait: Maggots, worms, small fish, and artificial lures.
Tactics: Ledgering near structures; float fishing with maggots; lure fishing for larger individuals.
9. Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus)
Appearance: Slender body with a silvery sheen; slightly forked tail; red or orange fins.
Behavior: Bottom feeders; often found in fast-flowing rivers.
Best Fishing Times: Spring to autumn; mornings and evenings best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 1–2 lb (0.45–0.9 kg); specimen: 2+ lb (0.9+ kg); UK record: 1 lb 5 oz (0.599 kg), caught by Simon Ashton on 5 December 2002 at River Wear, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear.
Bait: Maggots, worms, and small boilies.
Tactics: Feeder fishing with maggots; float fishing in faster currents.
10. Barbel (Barbus barbus)
Appearance: Elongated body with a greyish-brown back; four barbels at the corners of the mouth.
Behavior: Bottom feeders; prefer fast-flowing rivers.
Best Fishing Times: Late spring to early autumn; evenings and nights best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 8–12 lb (3.6–5.4 kg); specimen: 15+ lb (6.8+ kg); UK record: 22lb 1oz (10.000 kg), caught by James Crosby on 30th November 2024 at King’s Weir, River Lea..
Bait: Halibut pellets, boilies, and worms.
Tactics: Feeder fishing with strong currents; night fishing often yields better results.
11. Pike (Esox lucius)
Appearance: Long, torpedo-shaped body; sharp teeth; greenish body with lighter, mottled markings.
Behavior: Predatory; ambushes prey from cover.
Best Fishing Times: Autumn to early spring; dawn and dusk best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 8–12 lb (3.6–5.4 kg); specimen: 20+ lb (9+ kg); UK record: 47 lb 05 oz (21.460 kg), caught by Lloyd Watson on 1 April 2024 at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset.
Bait: Deadbaits (e.g., roach, mackerel), livebaits, and lures.
Tactics: Ledgering with deadbaits; trolling with lures; targeting weedy areas and drop-offs.
12. Zander (Sander lucioperca)
Appearance: Elongated body with sharp spines on the dorsal fin; greenish body with vertical black stripes.
Behavior: Predatory; hunts in shoals.
Best Fishing Times: Autumn to early spring; evenings and nights best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 8–12 lb (3.6–5.4 kg); specimen: 15+ lb (6.8+ kg); UK record: 21 lb 5 oz (9.667 kg), caught by James Benfield in 2007 at Upper Load Lock, R Severn, Tewksbury, Glos..
Bait: Livebaits, deadbaits, and lures.
Tactics: Jigging with soft plastics; trolling with lures; fishing near structures and drop-offs.
13. Grayling (Thymallus thymallus)
Appearance: Slender body with a large, sail-like dorsal fin; silvery-grey coloration.
Behavior: Bottom feeders; often found in fast-flowing rivers.
Best Fishing Times: Autumn to early spring; mornings and evenings best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 1–2 lb (0.45–0.9 kg); specimen: 3+ lb (1.4+ kg); UK record: 4 lb 8 oz (2.04 kg), caught by Simon Ellis on 18 february 2019 at River Frome, Dorset.
Bait: Maggots, worms, and small nymphs.
Tactics: Trotting with float rigs; nymph fishing; targeting riffles and runs.
14. Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)
Appearance: Streamlined body with a forked tail; coloration varies from brown to olive with spots.
Behavior: Predatory; hunts insects and smaller fish.
Best Fishing Times: Spring to autumn; early morning and evening best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 1–2 lb (0.45–0.9 kg); specimen: 5+ lb (2.3+ kg); UK record: 31 lb 12 oz (14.4 kg), caught by Brian Rutland in 2002 at Loch Awe, Scotland
Bait: Worms, maggots, and artificial flies.
Tactics: Fly fishing; ledgering with worms; targeting pools and undercut banks.
15. Salmon (Salmo salar)
Appearance: Streamlined body with a forked tail; coloration varies from silver to dark olive.
Behavior: Migratory; returns to natal rivers to spawn.
Best Fishing Times: Summer to autumn; early morning and evening best.
Specimen Sizes: Average: 8–12 lb (3.6–5.4 kg); specimen: 20+ lb (9+ kg); UK record: 64 lb (29 kg), caught by Miss Georgina Ballantine on 7 october 1922 at River Tay, Scotland.
Bait: Worms, maggots, and artificial flies.
Tactics: Fly fishing; spinning; targeting pools and riffles.
