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Overview

How to target

Rock Cook Wrasse
Species ID: rock-cook-wrasse

Rock Cook Wrasse

A tiny, colourful wrasse found on clean rock, kelp and boulder ground along the south and west coasts. From the shore, search clear, sheltered gullies, weedy harbour walls and shal...

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

Best tide

flood

Moon

neap

Season

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Wind

calm

Max weight

0.25 kg

Day vs night

Day 100%
Night 0%
A tiny, colourful wrasse found on clean rock, kelp and boulder ground along the south and west coasts. From the shore, search clear, sheltered gullies, weedy harbour walls and shallow ledges where kelp meets patches of sand. They pick at small crustaceans and worms, so scale right down: size 8–12 hooks, short 6–12 lb fluoro snoods, and small baits (ragworm tips, tiny peeler or hermit, prawn, mussel). Float-fish tight to the weed or drop a light running ledger/paternoster into holes and seams; LRF tactics with micro-soft plastics on 1–3 g heads also work. Best on a flooding tide into high water with little swell; neaps and calm/offshore conditions keep water clear. Expect bycatch of corkwing and small ballan wrasse, pollack and blennies. They feed by day and often show in bright, settled weather. Handle gently and release—most are very small.

Temperature

9–18°C

Depth range

0.5–20 m

Baits

  • Harbour Rag (Maddies) 9.2/10
  • Ragworm 8.8/10
  • Soft Crab 8.2/10
  • Prawn / Shrimp 8/10
  • Mussel 7.4/10
  • Soft Plastic (Worm / Isome-style) 6.8/10

Rigs

  • Dropshot 9.2/10

    Perfect for tiny wrasse around kelp and boulders; holds a 1-2in worm or creature just off bottom; great bite detection from piers or rock marks; short dropper reduces snagging.

  • Float (Sliding) 8.8/10

    Presents small rag or prawn tight to rock faces and kelp; set depth 1-4 m; keeps bait above snags, ideal in swell along rough ground and harbour walls.

  • Split Shot Rig 8.3/10

    Ultra-finesse for shy, small-mouthed wrasse; drift a small isopod or worm along gullies; light shot minimises snagging and lets you probe pockets and ledges.

  • Texas Rig 8/10

    Weedless LRF option for kelp; 1-3 g bullet, size 8-10 wide-gape and 1-2in soft plastic; crawl through rough ground without snagging to pick off rock cooks in holes.