Forkbeard
Phycis phycis
FR Mostelle · ES Brótola de roca · PT Abrótea-da-costa · IT Musdea · DE Dunkler Gabeldorsch
Also known as: Lesser ForkbeardBrótola de rocaAbrótea-da-costaMostelle de rocheAbrótiaBrótola de rocaMostelleDunkler GabeldorschMusdeaAbrótea-da-costa
BenthicBoat
Deepwater
Score
—
Prime time
Year-round; daylight
Depth
13–250m
Platform
Boat
Season
JanMarJunSepDec
Peak Jun–SepGood May–Nov
Depth range
13–250mDeep
Best fishing techniques
Bottom Fishing / Ledgering80%
Running Ledger60%
Preferred seabed
RockMixed
Findr bio
Rocky crevices, night shift, allergic to open water. I hide by day and hunt by touch after dark, so fish deep and fish patient.
How to catch
Favourite hangouts
Wreck reefDeep water
Recommended baits
Fish baitsSquidWorms
Diet
Small fishShrimpCrabKrill
Effective techniques
Bottom FishingRunning Ledger
Gear
Best times
DuskNight
My chin barbel and forked pelvic-fin whiskers feel out food in total darkness — I rarely need to see my dinner.
Field notes
Where to find them
NE Atlantic rocky and mixed ground
Where they hang out
Rocky/mixed ground, moderate depth
Prime time
Year-round; daylight
Tide game
Moderate
What they're into
Mackerel and squid strips near bottom
Temperature vibe
Broadly cold-to-temperate tolerant
Fave weather
Moderate seas workable
Fun fact about me
Chin-whiskered bottom-feeler — I taste the sediment before I trust it.
Dinner material?
6/10Edible, nothing special
Play by the rules
Generally unrestricted; check local bag limitsLocal/regional fisheries authority
Looking after them
Least Concern