WHERE & WHEN

The common skate is a bottom-dwelling species, typically found in waters with a depth of approximately 200 metres, but can be found anywhere up to 600m.

Historically, skate ranged throughout much of the Continental shelf of the north-east Atlantic, northern Morocco in the south, all the way to Iceland and northern Norway, including the Mediterranean Sea. Common skate were once considered to have a wide range over the shallower waters of the Continental shelf surrounding the British Isles. Sadly, today their population and range has been severely depleted and fragmented.

Key angling areas for this species are found off north-western Scotland, notably around Oban. Other popular areas for skate include West Cork and the west coast of Ireland, notably Clew Bay. Another hugely productive area is Red Bay off the coast of Northern Ireland.

Skate can be caught throughout the year, but the very best times are invariably late winter and spring, and again in the autumn.