Pouting, also called bib, is a deep-bodied, coppery fish with four or five darker bands down its sides and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Pouting are listed among regular inshore catches and wreck-trip fish from Brighton. British boat record: confirmed.
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About the pouting
Pouting, also called bib, is a deep-bodied, coppery fish with four or five darker bands down its sides and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. It is very common in the English Channel.
Small fish use shallow sand, while larger fish shoal near rocks and wrecks, down to 300m. They grow to about 3kg, and a boat fish averages about 1kg.
Off Sussex, they are listed among the regular inshore catches and wreck-trip fish from Brighton. Kestrel Warrior's seasonal guide marks November, and December to January, as possible months.
Small fish take worm baits, while larger ones go for fish strips and squid. Small sabiki lures or mini-eels fished hard on the bottom also work. The British boat record is 5lb 8oz, caught off Berry Head in Devon in 1969, well above the average boat fish of around a kilogram.
Pouting are not a fish many people travel for, but they are worth knowing, since they turn up regularly on the wrecks and rough ground that boat trips fish.
On the boat
Small pouting take worm baits. Larger fish prefer fish strips and squid. Small sabiki lures or mini-eels fished hard on the bottom also work. Off Sussex, Kestrel Warrior's seasonal guide marks November, and December to January, as possible months, and pouting are listed among regular inshore catches and wreck-trip fish from Brighton. Other months are not given in the record, so they are not known here.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 5 lb 8 oz (2.494 kg)
- Where
- Off Berry Head, Devon
- When
- 1969
- Angler
- R Armstrong
Confirmed British boat-caught record: R Armstrong, 5 lb 8 oz (2.494 kg), off Berry Head, Devon, 1969. The list gives the year only, not the full date. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024. This record is on the official British Record Fish Committee list, so it is a confirmed record, not a claim.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
No minimum size was found for pouting on the Gov.uk page. The record gives no other protection or eating notes for this species. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
Pouting are very common in the English Channel, and larger fish shoal near rocks and wrecks, down to 300 m, according to Planet Sea Fishing.
Questions about the pouting
What is the British boat-caught record for pouting?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: R Armstrong, 5 lb 8 oz (2.494 kg), off Berry Head, Devon, 1969. The list gives the year only, not the full date. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024. This record is on the official British Record Fish Committee list, so it is a confirmed record, not a claim.
Is pouting caught off the Sussex coast?
Yes. Pouting are listed among regular inshore catches and wreck-trip fish from Brighton.
When is the best time to catch pouting?
Off Sussex: Possible in November and from December to January on Kestrel Warrior's seasonal guide.
How big does a pouting get?
Up to about 3 kg; a boat fish averages about 1 kg.
Sources
- Planet Sea Fishing - Pouting: planetseafishing.com
- BRFC Sea Fish Listings June 2026: anglingtrust.net
- Kestrel Warrior - Sea fish of Sussex: kestrelwarrior6.co.uk
- Kestrel Warrior - Sea fishing seasons Sussex: kestrelwarrior6.co.uk
- Kestrel Warrior - Wreck fishing Brighton: kestrelwarrior6.co.uk
Picture: Georges Jansoone (JoJan), file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
