The ballan wrasse is a deep-bodied fish with a big head and thick lips. A ballan wrasse was landed on a deep-water wreck trip out of Brighton Marina, in an August report. British boat record: confirmed.
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About the ballan wrasse
The ballan wrasse is a deep-bodied fish with a big head and thick lips. It comes in green-brown, or reddish with white spots. Most are under 50 cm, and the species reaches about 66 cm. The heaviest recorded is about 4.4 kg, according to Wikipedia.
It lives over rocky ground, seaweed and reefs, from about 1 to 50 m deep. Off Sussex, one was landed on a deep-water wreck trip out of Brighton Marina in an August report, and the Kestrel Warrior seasons guide lists April and August.
It is a popular catch-and-release target on soft plastic lures. It is also farmed as a cleaner fish, so putting it back is the usual practice. The IUCN rated it Least Concern in 2010.
The British boat record is 9 lb 7 oz 12 dr (4.302 kg), caught off Jersey in 1999, not far short of the 4.4 kg Wikipedia gives as the heaviest recorded. Take a good look at those thick lips, then put it back.
On the boat
On a Kestrel Warrior wreck trip, a ballan wrasse was caught on fresh mackerel bait. It is also a popular catch-and-release target on soft plastic lures. The Kestrel Warrior seasons guide lists April and August for it. Our sources do not give other months, rigs or named grounds. It lives over rocky ground, seaweed and reefs, about 1 to 50 m deep, so that is where you would expect to find it.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 9 lb 7 oz 12 dr (4.302 kg)
- Where
- Off Jersey, Channel Islands
- When
- 1999
- Angler
- Tony Heart
Confirmed British boat-caught record: Tony Heart, 9 lb 7 oz 12 dr (4.302 kg), off Jersey, Channel Islands, in 1999. This is from the official British Record Fish Committee list (updated 18 June 2026). Only the year is given. Official boat records were frozen in June 2024, and the weight record is kept for reference.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
Catch-and-release is the usual practice, as the species is farmed as a cleaner fish. No minimum size is listed for it on the GOV.UK table (updated 3 February 2026), but check local IFCA byelaws too. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
Ballan wrasse are farmed as cleaner fish, according to the species record, which is one reason catch-and-release is the usual practice among anglers.
Questions about the ballan wrasse
What is the British boat-caught record for ballan wrasse?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: Tony Heart, 9 lb 7 oz 12 dr (4.302 kg), off Jersey, Channel Islands, in 1999. This is from the official British Record Fish Committee list (updated 18 June 2026). Only the year is given. Official boat records were frozen in June 2024, and the weight record is kept for reference.
Is ballan wrasse caught off the Sussex coast?
Yes. A ballan wrasse was landed on a deep-water wreck trip out of Brighton Marina, in an August report.
When is the best time to catch ballan wrasse?
Off Sussex: Kestrel Warrior's seasons guide lists April and August; one was landed on a wreck trip in August.
How big does a ballan wrasse get?
Most under 50 cm; up to about 66 cm. Heaviest recorded about 4.4 kg (Wikipedia).
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ballan wrasse: en.wikipedia.org
- Kestrel Warrior report 15-16 August: kestrelwarrior6.co.uk
- Kestrel Warrior: Sussex seasons: kestrelwarrior6.co.uk
- BRFC sea fish listing June 2026: anglingtrust.net
- GOV.UK MCRS: gov.uk
Picture: Jonmp at English Wikipedia, file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
