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FISH GUIDE · Sea

Greater forkbeard: identification, habitat and fishing guide

Phycis blennoides

Greater forkbeard is a Phycis associated particularly with sandy and muddy bottoms. Phycis blennoides is distinct from forkbeard; its recorded depths are not a recommended fishing programme.

Catalogue names : Greater forkbeard. 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 eastern Atlantic from Norway and Iceland to Cape Blanc in West Africa, and in the Mediterranean according to FishBase.

  • Documented presence : Eastern Atlantic
  • Documented presence : Mediterranean 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

Phycis blennoides has an elongated ray on the first dorsal fin and pelvic filaments reaching beyond the anal-fin origin. Its brownish to pink-grey colour may include a dark spot on the second dorsal; compare several features.

FAO specifies that the elongated filamentous ray is the third ray of the first dorsal fin; the second dorsal and anal fin have long bases. Observe without stretching the filaments.

Habitat

Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean; sandy and muddy bottoms of the shelf and slope. Depth varies between regions; no target fishing layer is inferred from this description.

Diet

Mainly crustaceans, and also fish according to the consulted Mediterranean FAO sheet.

Behaviour

Young fish are more coastal than adults, which make greater use of the continental slope. Their habitats must not be confused with those of adult forkbeard.

Indicative biological size

20–40 cm common size in the consulted Mediterranean FAO sheet; this reference is not a legal size limit.

Fishing context and precautions

Chris Appleby reports a Phycis blennoides caught by Vilhelm Skilhagen in Norway: shore bait fishing with mackerel and shrimp on a circle-hook rig. This exceptional deep-water observation documents a method without defining a depth to target or a French release procedure.

A distinctive feature

The very long pelvic-fin filaments are a useful identification feature; observe them without pulling on them.

Sources and review

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

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