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Overview

How to target

Garfish
Species ID: garfish

Garfish

A classic UK summer visitor, garfish favour clear, tide-washed water around piers, harbour mouths and rocky headlands, usually high in the water and often mixed with mackerel and s...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: offshore 📅 Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Best tide

flood

Moon

neap

Season

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Wind

offshore

Max weight

1.2 kg

Day vs night

Day 100%
Night 10%
A classic UK summer visitor, garfish favour clear, tide-washed water around piers, harbour mouths and rocky headlands, usually high in the water and often mixed with mackerel and scad. Best shore sport is on the flood into high water in bright conditions, particularly with offshore or light winds that keep the water clear. Float-fish a small strip of mackerel belly or sandeel set 1–3 m under a slim float on 8–12 lb mono/fluoro and a long-shank size 4–8 fine-wire hook; cast across the tide and let it trot with a slow retrieve. Small metals, bubble-float-and-fly, or a Sabiki under a float also work. Garfish nip short, so wait for the float to slide away before striking; keep tackle light and moving. Use long-nose pliers for the beak and handle gently if releasing.

Temperature

10–18°C

Depth range

0.5–10 m

Baits

  • Garfish Strip 9.3/10
  • Mackerel Strip 9/10
  • Sabiki 8.4/10
  • Micro Metal (LRF) 8/10
  • Soft Plastic (Sandeel) 7.8/10

Rigs

  • Float (Sliding) 9.2/10

    Best for surface-feeding gar off piers/headlands. Slide-stop sets shallow depth; drift a thin mackerel/sandeel strip on size 6–8 long-shank, 10–12 lb fluoro. Let tide carry it, add gentle retrieves to trigger takes.

  • Bombarda (Casting Float) 8.8/10

    Casts tiny baits/soft plastics a long way while keeping them near surface. Ideal in clear, calm conditions when gar show beyond standard float range. Steady, quick retrieve over tide lines.

  • Livebait Float Rig 8.2/10

    Deadly around piers/harbours with small live sandeel/sprat. Suspend 1–3 m down; let it drift on the flood when gar move in. Use fine-wire hook through the nose for lively presentation.

  • Feathers / Sabiki 7/10

    Use small sabikis (size 6–10) worked high in the water at dusk/dawn. Cast and wind steadily; can be fished under a bubble/float. Avoid bulky daylights—gar prefer slim, delicate offerings.