Bullrout
Myoxocephalus scorpius · Small fish and rockpool species
Also called short-spined sea scorpion, father lasher, sea scorpion
A big-headed, spiny bottom fish of rocky and mixed ground around the British Isles. Shore anglers rarely catch it; most come from deeper water.[1]
How to recognise it
- Squat body with a very large head and mouth, and a tapering, scaleless rear half.[1]
- No barbels at the mouth and spines shorter than the eye, which separates it from the long-spined sea scorpion.[1]
- Mottled brown or green above, with a red or orange belly.[1]
- Small spikes along the lateral line and spines on the gill covers and head.[1]
When and where
Sources
These notes are a draft: we gathered them from the sources above and are still checking them. We don't work out best times for this fish yet. The size rules come from the same checked byelaws as every other fish.