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Overview

How to target

Two-spotted Goby
Species ID: two-spotted-goby

Two-spotted Goby

A tiny, kelp-loving micro common on rocky and weedy UK coastlines, piers and harbour walls. In season (late spring to autumn) they shoal in very shallow water around fronds of kelp...

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

Best tide

flood

Moon

none

Season

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Wind

calm

Max weight

0.005 kg

Day vs night

Day 90%
Night 10%
A tiny, kelp-loving micro common on rocky and weedy UK coastlines, piers and harbour walls. In season (late spring to autumn) they shoal in very shallow water around fronds of kelp, eelgrass and weeded structure, often mid-water rather than tight to the bottom. Target the flooding tide as it lifts over the weed fringe; high water under piers, breakwaters and along rock faces can be excellent. Clear, calm days make them easy to spot by their two dark spots and hovering, pecking behaviour. Use ultra-light LRF or short whips with 1–3 lb line/fluoro, size 18–22 micro hooks or Tanago, a tiny split shot (or 0.5–1 g jighead) and a small 2–5 mm bait tip: rag/lug slivers, prawn, mussel, or scented softs (isome/creature baits). Suspend or slowly lift-and-hold the bait 10–60 cm off the weed or wall; bites are quick taps—strike gently. They dislike surge and silt from heavy swell or big springs, so pick neapy, settled windows if possible. Mostly a daylight species; at night they tuck into cover. Handle with wet hands, use barbless where you can, and return quickly—eelgrass and kelp beds are fragile habitats.

Temperature

9–17°C

Depth range

0.2–20 m

Baits

  • Ragworm 9.4/10
  • Harbour Rag (Maddies) 9/10
  • Mussel 8/10
  • Cockle 7.2/10
  • Sabiki 6/10
  • Soft Plastic (Worm / Isome-style) 5.6/10

Rigs

  • Dropshot 9.2/10

    Hold a tiny worm/Isome or sliver of rag just off rocks/kelp where two‑spotted gobies sit. Great from harbours and rock gullies on slack or gentle tide; micro hooks (#14–18) and 1–3 g leads reduce snagging.

  • Split Shot Rig 8.8/10

    Ultra-light and unobtrusive for sight-fishing in rockpools, margins and pier walls. Drifts a pinched rag/Isome naturally among weed. Best in calm water; set shot to just tick bottom for tiny-mouthed gobies.

  • Float (Sliding) 8.2/10

    Suspends a micro bait at exact depth over kelp beds and around pier stanchions, avoiding snags. Ideal in clear water and gentle swell; set stop to mid-water where two‑spotted gobies shoal.

  • Jighead 7.8/10

    Micro 1–2 g jigheads with small soft plastics or worm tips hop along weed edges and steps. Covers water quickly from shore; best in neap tides and sheltered marks; use tiny hooks to match goby mouths.

  • Cheb Rig 7.2/10

    Light cheb with a weedless hook lets buoyant micro lures crawl through rough ground and kelp without constant hang-ups. Handy when gobies hug bottom in tide runs around boulders.