Herring is one of the great fish of British waters, though not one that most anglers set out to catch. The British boat record herring was caught off Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, in 1973. British boat record: confirmed.
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About the herring
Herring is one of the great fish of British waters, though not one that most anglers set out to catch. It is silvery and torpedo-shaped, with a blue-green back, large scales that come off easily and a smooth belly with no sharp keel. It grows to about 45 cm and 1.1 kg. Herring live in large open-water shoals in the North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea and Celtic Sea. The Southern Bight herring, the ones of the Downs, spawn from November to January. We found no month-by-month angling calendar, so we have not offered one. Sussex IFCA says herring are taken in the district only commercially, between October and December. Herring are an important bait fish for anglers. The species also has a small place in Sussex angling history, because the British boat record herring came off Bexhill-on-Sea in 1973, caught by a 13-year-old. It was a small fish by weight, just over a pound, but it still stands on the official list. Kestrel Warrior also lists herring among the fish caught on its mackerel trips.
On the boat
We found no specific angling method for herring in our sources, so we do not give one. Sussex IFCA says herring are taken in the district only commercially, between October and December. Kestrel Warrior lists herring among the fish caught on its mackerel trips. Herring are described as an important bait fish for anglers.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 1 lb 1 oz (0.481 kg)
- Where
- off Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex
- When
- 1973
- Angler
- B. Barden (aged 13)
Confirmed British boat-caught record: B. Barden (aged 13), 1 lb 1 oz (0.481 kg), off Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, in 1973. This is a historical weight record from the official British Record Fish Committee list. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and new claims are by length only, with a qualifying length of 32 cm.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
The minimum landing size is 20 cm, according to the Gov.uk table checked in 2026. The IUCN lists herring as Least Concern. Herring are an important bait fish for anglers. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
The British boat record herring was caught off Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, in 1973 by a 13-year-old angler, and the fish weighed 1 lb 1 oz.
Questions about the herring
What is the British boat-caught record for herring?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: B. Barden (aged 13), 1 lb 1 oz (0.481 kg), off Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, in 1973. This is a historical weight record from the official British Record Fish Committee list. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and new claims are by length only, with a qualifying length of 32 cm.
Is herring caught off the Sussex coast?
Yes. The British boat record herring was caught off Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, in 1973.
When is the best time to catch herring?
Off Sussex: Sussex IFCA says herring are taken in the district only commercially, between October and December. Around Britain: Southern Bight (Downs) herring spawn from November to January (Wikipedia). No month-by-month angling calendar was found.
How big does a herring get?
Up to about 45 cm and 1.1 kg (Wikipedia). The BRFC boat record fish weighed 1 lb 1 oz.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Atlantic herring: en.wikipedia.org
- Sussex IFCA species: sussex-ifca.gov.uk
- Kestrel Warrior mackerel trip: kestrelwarrior6.co.uk
- Gov.uk MCRS in UK waters: gov.uk
- BRFC sea fish listings June 2026: anglingtrust.net
Picture: savoieju, file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
