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Overview

How to target

Long-spined Sea Scorpion
Species ID: long-spined-sea-scorpion

Long-spined Sea Scorpion

A resident rockfish around most UK coasts, the long-spined sea scorpion thrives in rockpools, kelp-strewn gullies and along harbour walls. It rarely strays far from cover, so fish...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: calm 📅 Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best tide

flood

Moon

none

Season

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Wind

calm

Max weight

0.35 kg

Day vs night

Day 80%
Night 50%
A resident rockfish around most UK coasts, the long-spined sea scorpion thrives in rockpools, kelp-strewn gullies and along harbour walls. It rarely strays far from cover, so fish tight to rough ground and structure. Short, accurate drops or flicks are better than long casts. Use tiny baits on fine tackle: size 6–12 hooks on short snoods in a simple 1–2 hook paternoster or light running ledger. Small pieces of rag or lug, mussel, prawn, peeler crab, or slivers of fish all work; LRF micro-soft plastics or small metals hopped along the bottom also score. A rotten-bottom link helps beat snags; 1–2 oz leads are usually enough. Float fishing small baits down a wall can be deadly in clear harbours. They push in with the flood and sit in holes at high water; at low tide you can also pick them from deeper rockpools. Mostly a daytime ambush predator but will take baits after dark. Handle carefully—dorsal spines are sharp—and return fish promptly, especially winter males guarding eggs.

Temperature

5–16°C

Depth range

Not specified

Baits

  • Ragworm 9.2/10
  • Mussel 8.6/10
  • Limpet 8.1/10
  • Prawn / Shrimp 7.8/10
  • Soft Plastic (Creature) 7.1/10

Rigs

  • Split Shot Rig 9.2/10

    Ultra-light for rockpools and pier legs. Presents tiny rag, prawn or micro-soft plastics right in kelp and crevices where scorpions sit. Minimal lead cuts snagging and shows delicate takes.

  • Dropshot 8.9/10

    Hold a worm strip or micro-lure an inch off the bottom by rocks. Precise control and great bite detection in harbours and rough ground at slack to moderate tide; draws ambush hits.

  • Two-Hook Flapper 8/10

    Short snoods, size 6–10 hooks and small crab/mussel/rag baits. Fishes two levels just off bottom on mixed/rough ground; ideal for scratching tight to boulders, groynes and pier legs.

  • Float (Sliding) 7.6/10

    Set shallow to suspend a small bait beside kelp and rock edges, keeping gear above snags. Works well in gentle tides around harbour walls and rocky gullies.

  • Running Ledger 7/10

    Simple, sensitive ledger to creep a small bait along crevices tight to structure. Use a short trace and light lead; best in slack water to reduce snagging.