English Channel · fish in season in November
Peak season
Whiting Merlangius merlangus
Whiting
An autumn and winter fish that arrives in October and is caught alongside cod through winter. On the French side, big whiting are taken by boat in January–March.
Where: Sandy beaches and pier ends; especially at night in calm seas.
Sabiki / feather rig Bottom fishing Handline Sabiki feathers Chicken breast Mussel Fish strip
Source: British Sea Fishing · British Sea Fishing · Peche.com
European flounder Platichthys flesus
Flounder
Present all year; it moves deeper to spawn in late winter–early spring, so catches drop then. A steady catch in estuaries in autumn and winter.
Where: Estuaries, tidal rivers and sandy beaches; crab or worm baits.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Ragworm Lugworm Peeler crab
Source: British Sea Fishing · British Sea Fishing
European squid Loligo vulgaris
Squid
The north-east Atlantic population moves north in spring and back south in autumn. Shore fishing is usually best from late autumn into early spring as the water cools — a popular way to fill long winter evenings.
Where: Lit piers and quays; squid jigs after dark.
Eging (squid) Squid jig (egi)
Source: British Sea Fishing · Wikipedia · Peche.com
Common dab Limanda limanda
Dab
A cold-water flatfish, caught steadily inshore through autumn and winter; spawns in spring.
Where: Sandy beaches and bays; small hooks and worm baits.
Surfcasting Bottom fishing Ledgering Lugworm Ragworm Mackerel strip
Source: British Sea Fishing · British Sea Fishing
In season
European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax
Bass · Sea bass
Present all year in the southern Channel and the waters south and west of Britain; in the cold months it is mostly smaller, immature fish. Most plentiful May–October. In 2026, in England and in France north of the 48th parallel, February–March is catch-and-release only; in other months 3 bass per angler per day, minimum size 42 cm. Rules can change every year; check the MMO / local IFCA in England or the DIRM in France. Not legal advice.
Where: Turbulent rocky and shingle shores, sandy beaches with current, estuaries and harbours; days with strong onshore wind can be productive.
Shore spinning Surfcasting Trolling Minnow (hard bait) Soft plastic Small live fish Peeler crab Ragworm
Source: Angling Times · Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority · Peche.com
Thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus
Thick-lipped grey mullet
The most plentiful mullet and present all year; mature fish are in shallow water in the warm months and deeper in winter.
Where: Harbours, estuaries, coves and under piers; float tackle with bread.
Float fishing Ledgering Bottom fishing Bread Dough bait Ragworm
Source: Angling Times · British Sea Fishing · Granville Terre et Mer Tourisme / DDTM Manche
Pollack Pollachius pollachius
Pollack · Pollock
Thrives in inshore waters from May to October; larger fish move deeper in winter and spawn there. Winter shore catches are mostly small fish. A daily bag limit applies (in France north of the 48th parallel, 2 per day in 2026; in the UK a 3 per day limit was announced from 2026); minimum size in France 42 cm. Rules can change every year; check the MMO / local IFCA in England or the DIRM in France. Not legal advice.
Where: Reefs, weedy rocky shores, harbour walls and wrecks.
Shore spinning Boat spinning Float fishing Soft plastic Jig head Minnow (hard bait) Sand eel Ragworm Mackerel strip
Source: Angling Times · Peche.com · British Sea Fishing
Atlantic cod Gadus morhua
Cod · Codling
A cold-water fish that mostly reaches southern shores in autumn and stays through winter. Numbers are lower in southern England than further north.
Where: Rocky outcrops, reefs and inshore wrecks; beaches after winter storms.
Jigging Bottom fishing Surfcasting Metal jig Soft plastic Jig head Peeler crab Lugworm Squid
Source: British Sea Fishing · Angling Times · British Sea Fishing
Pouting Trisopterus luscus
Pouting · Bib
A non-migratory species, caught throughout the year including winter.
Where: Rocky and mixed ground, wrecks and pier bases.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Ragworm Lugworm Mackerel strip
Source: British Sea Fishing · British Sea Fishing
European conger Conger conger
Conger · Conger eel
More common on offshore wrecks, but in summer big fish come close in to rocky crevices and the base of harbour walls. Mainly nocturnal.
Where: Rock crevices, under piers, harbour walls and wrecks; at night with fresh fish baits.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Drifting Mackerel strip Squid Cuttlefish
Source: Angling Times · British Sea Fishing · Granville Terre et Mer Tourisme / DDTM Manche
Small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula
Lesser-spotted dogfish · Dogfish
Abundant on southern and western coasts; thought to breed all year and caught in every season.
Where: Sandy and mixed ground, mostly shallower than 50 m.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Mackerel strip Squid Sand eel
Source: British Sea Fishing
Nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris
Bull huss · Nursehound
Found mainly on the southern and western coasts of Britain. We found no separate monthly data; values are conservative.
Where: Deeper, rocky ground; will move shallow to feed.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Mackerel strip Squid Cuttlefish
Source: British Sea Fishing
Occasional
Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus
Scad · Horse mackerel
Spends most of the year in deeper water and comes inshore in the warm summer months. More common on southern and western coasts.
Where: Harbours and piers; dusk and night, under lights.
Sabiki / feather rig Jigging Sabiki feathers Soft plastic Metal jig Anchovy Sardine Squid
Source: British Sea Fishing · Granville Terre et Mer Tourisme / DDTM Manche
Turbot Scophthalmus maximus
Turbot
Comes into shallower water in spring and early summer, by far the best time from the shore. It can be caught for most of the rest of the year, except the coldest winter months.
Where: Sandy beaches and sandbanks; sandeel baits.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Live bait Horse mackerel Fish strip Anchovy
Source: British Sea Fishing · British Sea Fishing
Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus
Bluefin tuna
CLOSED SEASON
Restricted species: in English waters only the MMO-permitted catch-and-release recreational fishery (CRRF) is open; the 2026 season runs mid-July to 30 November, with limited permits and mandatory training. Do not target without a permit. On the French side fishing needs authorisation and catches must be declared. No fishing technique is shown. Rules can change every year; check the MMO / local IFCA in England or the DIRM in France. Not legal advice.
Trolling Live bait Boat spinning Trolling lure Popper Stickbait Sardine Mackerel strip Small live fish
Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus
Mackerel
Arrives in late spring and early summer and leaves in autumn; in parts of southern Britain it is now absent only in winter. August is usually the best month.
Where: Harbours, breakwaters, rocks and beaches with deep water close in; feathers or spinners.
Sabiki / feather rig Shore spinning Float fishing Sabiki feathers Spinner Fish strip
Source: Angling Times · British Sea Fishing · Granville Terre et Mer Tourisme / DDTM Manche
Thornback ray Raja clavata
Thornback ray
PROTECTED
Usually lives in water shallower than 100 m and comes right inshore in summer, staying into early autumn. Peeler crab is very effective in spring.
Source: British Sea Fishing · British Sea Fishing
Ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta
Ballan wrasse
Can be caught all year, but shore catches are best in spring, summer and early autumn; cold weather sends it deeper. Long-lived and slow to mature, so most anglers release it.
Where: Close to weedy rock bases, reefs and harbour walls.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Minnow (hard bait) Hardback crab Peeler crab Ragworm
Source: Angling Times · British Sea Fishing
Thinlip grey mullet Chelon ramada
Thin-lipped grey mullet
Enters estuaries and the tidal reaches of rivers. We found no separate monthly data; values follow the general summer mullet season and are conservative.
Where: Estuaries and tidal rivers; small spinners or worm baits.
Shore spinning Float fishing Ledgering Spinner Ragworm Bread Dough bait
Source: British Sea Fishing
This is the general seasonal pattern for the region, not live data. It can shift by a few weeks with water temperature, migration and the year.