Whiting off Sussex | UK Boat Record, Size & Season

Whiting (Merlangius merlangus). Slim, silvery fish with a copper-brown back, a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin and no chin barbel as an adult. — Whiting (*Merlangius merlangus*). Picture: Georges Jansoone (JoJan), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Picture credits

In short

Whiting is a slim, silvery fish with a copper-brown back and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Whiting are a regular on inshore trips from Brighton and a main target in autumn. British boat record: confirmed.

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About the whiting

Whiting is a slim, silvery fish with a copper-brown back and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. As an adult it has no chin barbel. It grows to about 70cm and 3kg.

Whiting live in large shoals over sand or mud, mostly at depths of 30 to 100m, on the bottom or in mid-water.

Off Sussex, whiting are a regular on inshore trips from Brighton, and the Kestrel Warrior seasons guide lists them as a main target in autumn. October and November are the main months, with whiting possible from December to February. That puts whiting trips in autumn and early winter, ahead of the main winter cod months.

The usual baits are lugworm, squid and mackerel, often put together as a cocktail, and small feathers and pirks are occasionally used. The British boat record is 7lb 6oz, caught off Plymouth in 2012, a little heavier than the 3kg the species is normally said to reach.

On the boat

Whiting are caught on lugworm, squid and mackerel baits, often fished as a cocktail. Small feathers and pirks sometimes work too. Off Sussex, October and November are the main months, with whiting possible from December to February. They are a regular catch on inshore trips from Brighton. No months are given for the rest of Britain.

British boat-caught record

Confirmed record

Weight: 7 lb 6 oz (3.345 kg)
Where: Off Plymouth, Devon
When: 2012
Angler: Mark Curtis

Confirmed British boat-caught record: Mark Curtis, 7 lb 6 oz (3.345 kg), off Plymouth, Devon, 2012. 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

The minimum size for whiting in UK waters is 27 cm. The record gives no other protection or eating notes for this species. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.

Did you know?

Whiting gather in large shoals over sand or mud, mostly at 30 to 100 m, either on the bottom or in mid-water, according to Planet Sea Fishing.

Questions about the whiting

What is the British boat-caught record for whiting?

Confirmed British boat-caught record: Mark Curtis, 7 lb 6 oz (3.345 kg), off Plymouth, Devon, 2012. 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 whiting caught off the Sussex coast?

Yes. Whiting are a regular on inshore trips from Brighton and a main target in autumn.

When is the best time to catch whiting?

Off Sussex: Main target in October and November, with whiting possible from December to February.

How big does a whiting get?

Up to about 70 cm and 3 kg.