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FISH GUIDE · Sea

Haddock: identification, habitat and fishing guide

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Haddock feed near the bottom. A small shellfish bait and a simple line offer a starting point for reading contacts; this approach adapts Irish practices and requires local adjustment.

Catalogue names : Aiglefin. Forms and names may vary between habitats.

Editorial review : · This species guide is not permission to fish. Read the precautions below and check the current rules for your location before targeting a species. Some species or populations are protected.

Geographical distribution

Found in the North Atlantic and adjacent Arctic seas; FishBase lists, among other areas, southern Greenland, Iceland and the southern Barents Sea.

  • Documented presence : Northeast Atlantic
  • Documented presence : Northwest Atlantic
  • Documented presence : Barents Sea

Documented areas, not an exhaustive list. Presence in a region does not imply presence in every water body or permission to fish.

Distribution sources

Identification

Melanogrammus aeglefinus has a black blotch above the pectoral fin and a dark lateral line. Compare several features with cod; a single spot in a poor photograph is insufficient.

Habitat

A North Atlantic fish associated with the bottom, including sand, gravel and shells. NOAA’s American descriptions document its biology, not a specific French fishing spot.

Diet

Molluscs, worms, crustaceans and other small bottom animals; adults also take small fish.

Behaviour

Its bottom-feeding diet suggests a low presentation. This does not require continually dragging the weight; check the bait after short taps before repeatedly striking.

Indicative biological size

Around 35 cm common total length according to FishBase; not a legal size limit.

Fishing context and precautions

  1. From a suitable boat, locate a clear bottom patch with the person in charge. Prepare a terminal weight, a short hook snood and a single hook.
  2. Attach a small piece of legally obtained shellfish with the point exposed. Shellfish for haddock are documented by Inland Fisheries Ireland; the rig is an indicative adaptation.
  3. Lower while controlling the line and establish light contact near the bottom. Retrieve to check the bait if contacts remain unclear.
  4. At a clear pull, make contact gently and retrieve steadily. Prepare the landing net and identify the fish before recording it.

A distinctive feature

Young fish first spend several months near the surface before moving to the bottom.

Sources and review

Each reference includes its access date. Overall editorial review: . Local conditions and regulations may change.

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