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FISH GUIDE · Sea

Starry smooth-hound: identification, habitat and fishing guide

Mustelus asterias

Starry smooth-hound is a demersal shark whose pale spots may be faint or absent. Accounts using only the name “smooth-hound” do not prove a catch of Mustelus asterias.

Catalogue names : Starry smooth-hound. 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

Documented presence includes: northeastern Atlantic, from the British Isles to Mauritania ; North Sea ; Mediterranean Sea ; Canary Islands.

  • Documented presence : northeastern Atlantic, from the British Isles to Mauritania
  • Documented presence : North Sea
  • Documented presence : Mediterranean Sea
  • Documented presence : Canary Islands

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

An elongated grey body, two dorsal fins and often visible pale spots suggest Mustelus asterias. Their absence does not exclude this species: remain cautious and seek expert verification if features are insufficient.

Habitat

North-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean continental shelf, particularly sandy, gravelly and detrital bottoms. Misidentification of the two smooth-hounds can distort distribution maps.

Diet

Mainly crustaceans; also cephalopods and fish. Proportions vary between studies and are not generalised.

Behaviour

DORIS describes greater activity at night and small groups. This establishes neither a targeted method nor a universal timetable.

Indicative biological size

80–120 cm common size according to DORIS; this is not a legal size limit.

Fishing context and precautions

Fishing in Wales treats Mustelus asterias and Mustelus mustelus together and describes crab, squid and fish baits over sand, gravel or light mixed ground. This reference remains collective; it does not confirm the species of every catch. The attributed accounts below provide additional evidence for starry smooth-hound.

The IFI atlas names Mustelus asterias and documents Irish crab-bait catches, including peeler crab, mainly in summer. This 1955–2019 specimen record establishes bait use, not an effectiveness rate, a French timetable or a complete rigging and landing sequence.

David Proudfoot describes Gethyn Owen using a single-hook running leger for starry smooth-hound: a 50–100 cm snood, peeler crab mounted with the point exposed and secured with bait elastic. A Holyhead example to adapt; it establishes neither universal settings nor French permission.

Owen recommends a stationary presentation on the seabed and, where possible, release alongside the boat. Prepare landing before fishing; adapt weight and tackle to the current with the skipper. If landing cannot be controlled, leave the site.

A distinctive feature

This species is aplacentally viviparous: young develop inside the mother without a placental connection.

Sources and review

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

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