THE WINTER SHARK
You can warm up your boat fishing by seeking out the spurdogs
Warm up your seasonal fishing.
WINTER BOAT fishing is often about seeking out cod, but for those who like doing battle with the shark species then spurdogs are usually the target and thankfully they average into double-figure weights. ese obliging fish are usually found in relatively deep water, although, when their numbers are plentiful they are occasionally encountered in much shallower water. In a few areas, typically west-facing rock marks that offer access into deep water and some Scottish sea lochs, they can even be caught from the shore.
In the UK the best areas for targeting spurdogs include the Bristol Channel, the Irish Sea and the Western Isles and sea lochs of Scotland, along with many similar venues around the coast of Ireland. ey’re even caught in the
ames Estuary now, as charter skipper Scott Belbin explained in our previous issue (592).
In the more northerly locations, these sharks can be caught throughout the year but elsewhere they are regarded as a winter species. e shoals of these fish arrive in the autumn and winter then remaining until well into the spring.
e most productive marks are typically those in the vicinity of a reef or broken ground, being areas that hold a lot of food. Occasionally large numbers of spurs can be found over open and seemingly featureless ground, especially when they are feeding on shoals of sprats.
Commercially, spurdogs are highly valuable, being the original ‘rock salmon’ and overfishing throughout the 1990s led to a severe population collapse though in recent years they have made a significant recovery. Occasionally mistaken for a small tope or smoothhound, a spurdog is easily identified by a sharp spur located in front of each dorsal fin. Although these spines do not carry venom, they can inflict a painful injury and become infected.
TACKLE & RIG
As spurdogs are mostly associated with deep water, a traditional downtider such as a 20/30lb-class rod is often ideal. When fishing in strong tides, it might be necessary to use a heavier 30/50lb-class model in order to cope with up to a couple of pounds of lead weight which you’ll likely need, especially when fishing in very deep water. A reel with a high-speed retrieve is a bonus and braid line is invariably best when fishing for spurdogs. Due to the depth of water where these fish are usually found, in most