The greater forkbeard is one of the odd ones in the cod family. Our sources do not record it off the Sussex coast. British boat record: confirmed.
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About the greater forkbeard
The greater forkbeard is one of the odd ones in the cod family. It is brown to reddish-grey, with a barbel on the chin and very long, thread-like pelvic fins. You will not meet one often. It is listed as rare for rod anglers, and adults live on sand and mud bottoms, usually at 100 to 450 m, which is a long way down. Young fish stay nearer the coast.
Most are under 45 cm. FishBase gives a maximum of 110 cm and about 3.5 kg, though nobody should expect that. The official British boat record is a more modest 4 lb 11 oz 4 dr, which is 2.133 kg. It was caught in Falmouth Bay in 1969.
If you are reading this because you have seen the name on a species list, the honest summary is this: it is a real British boat fish, but a rare one for rod anglers. We have no Sussex notes for it, and we would rather say so than guess.
On the boat
The record gives no months, no methods and no Sussex notes for this species, so we cannot say how or when to catch one. What it does say is that adults live mostly at 100 to 450 m on sand and mud, that young fish stay nearer the coast, and that it is rare for rod anglers. The one official boat record came from Falmouth Bay, Cornwall. We would rather say that plainly than guess.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 4 lb 11 oz 4 dr (2.133 kg)
- Where
- Falmouth Bay, Cornwall
- When
- 1969
- Angler
- Miss M Woodgate
Confirmed British boat-caught record: Miss M Woodgate, 4 lb 11 oz 4 dr (2.133 kg), Falmouth Bay, Cornwall, 1969. The figures come from the British Record Fish Committee sea fish listings, updated 18 June 2026. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and newer claims are by length only. The list gives the year, not a full date.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
No minimum size was found on the Gov.uk page for this species, and the record holds no protected-species or release advice. Treat that as 'not found', not as 'no rules'. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
The very long, thread-like pelvic fins give the fish its look. FishBase gives a maximum of 110 cm and about 3.5 kg, yet most are under 45 cm.
Questions about the greater forkbeard
What is the British boat-caught record for greater forkbeard?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: Miss M Woodgate, 4 lb 11 oz 4 dr (2.133 kg), Falmouth Bay, Cornwall, 1969. The figures come from the British Record Fish Committee sea fish listings, updated 18 June 2026. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and newer claims are by length only. The list gives the year, not a full date.
Is greater forkbeard caught off the Sussex coast?
Not according to the sources behind this guide.
When is the best time to catch greater forkbeard?
Our sources do not give months for the greater forkbeard, for Sussex or for the rest of Britain.
How big does a greater forkbeard get?
Usually under 45 cm; maximum 110 cm and about 3.5 kg.
Sources
- FishBase - Phycis blennoides (mirror): fishbase.net.br
- BRFC Sea Fish Listings June 2026: anglingtrust.net
Picture: Etrusko25, file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
