The lesser spotted dogfish, also called the small-spotted catshark, is a small shark, slim, with rough sandpaper skin and many small dark spots on a sandy-brown back. A catshark appears in the University of Sussex 2024 survey, which ran from Shoreham to Selsey. British boat record: confirmed.
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About the lesser spotted dogfish
The lesser spotted dogfish, also called the small-spotted catshark, is a small shark, slim, with rough sandpaper skin and many small dark spots on a sandy-brown back. It grows to about 1 m and over 2 kg, according to Wikipedia. It lives on sandy, gravelly or muddy bottoms from a few metres down to 400 m, on the shelf around Britain. Around Britain, egg laying is in spring, with a gap from August to October, and feeding is most intense in summer. It is Least Concern on the IUCN list. Most that are caught are discarded, and about 98 percent survive release, which is good news for a fish that turns up so often. It was once sold as rock salmon. A catshark also appears in the University of Sussex 2024 survey, which covered Shoreham to Selsey, 28 sites and 81 fish species. The record gives no particular methods for it, so ask the skipper on the day.
On the boat
Lesser spotted dogfish live on sandy, gravelly and muddy ground, so that is where a bait on the bottom is likely to find one. Feeding is most intense in summer. The species record gives no catch months for Sussex and no specific methods, so we do not guess. Ask your skipper on the day. It is found from a few metres down to 400 m on the shelf around Britain, and egg laying is in spring, with a gap from August to October.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 4 lb 9 oz (2.069 kg)
- Where
- Off Fleetwood, Lancashire (Irish Sea)
- When
- 2005
- Angler
- M Donnelly
Confirmed British boat-caught record: M Donnelly, 4 lb 9 oz (2.069 kg), caught off Fleetwood, Lancashire (Irish Sea), in 2005. The official list gives the year only, not the full date, and shows the fish as Dogfish (Lesser Spotted). The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and newer claims are by length only.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
Most are discarded and about 98 percent survive release, so return them quickly and gently. It is Least Concern (IUCN). The record gives no landing size for it. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
The lesser spotted dogfish was once sold as rock salmon. About 98 percent of those that are discarded survive release.
Questions about the lesser spotted dogfish
What is the British boat-caught record for lesser spotted dogfish?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: M Donnelly, 4 lb 9 oz (2.069 kg), caught off Fleetwood, Lancashire (Irish Sea), in 2005. The official list gives the year only, not the full date, and shows the fish as Dogfish (Lesser Spotted). The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and newer claims are by length only.
Is lesser spotted dogfish caught off the Sussex coast?
Yes. A catshark appears in the University of Sussex 2024 survey, which ran from Shoreham to Selsey.
When is the best time to catch lesser spotted dogfish?
Around Britain: Egg laying around Britain is in spring, with a gap from August to October; feeding is most intense in summer. Our sources give no months for Sussex.
How big does a lesser spotted dogfish get?
Up to about 1 m and over 2 kg (Wikipedia).
Sources
- Wikipedia: Small-spotted catshark: en.wikipedia.org
- Kestrel Warrior: Sharks off Brighton: kestrelwarrior6.co.uk
- BRFC Sea Fish Records June 2026: anglingtrust.net
- Wikimedia Commons image page: commons.wikimedia.org
Picture: Hans Hillewaert, file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
