Photo: H. L. Todd / Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Haddock
Saltwater
About this species
A cod relative marked by a black lateral line and a dark "thumbprint" above the pectoral fin. It shoals over sand and gravel banks in the cold North Atlantic, feeding on invertebrates. Baited bottom rigs with worm, squid and clam over the banks are effective.
Season
123456789101112
Depth
40 – 300 m
Habitat Spots
Offshore
Fishing Methods
Bottom
Bait & Rig
Baited bottom rigs with strips of squid, clam, or sandworm presented close to the seafloor over gravel and shell-hash banks.
Edibility & Taste
Excellent sweet white flesh, especially good smoked as Finnan haddie; one of the most popular eating fish across the British Isles.
Similar Species
Distinguished from cod by the black lateral line, a distinctive dark thumbprint above the pectoral fin, and a more slender, laterally compressed body.
Record Weight
16.8 kg