UK Sea Fishing Size Limits – A Complete Guide
If you’re sea fishing around the UK, it’s important to know the legal minimum size for each fish species. These limits help protect young fish and keep stocks healthy, ensuring there’s plenty left for future anglers.
Below is a list of some of the most common sea fish in the UK and their minimum landing sizes (based on current government and IFCA guidelines). Always check local byelaws before fishing, as rules can vary slightly between regions.
UK Sea Fish Size Limits
- Bass – 42 cm minimum size
- Cod – 35 cm minimum size
- Whiting – 27 cm minimum size
- Mackerel – 30 cm minimum size
- Plaice – 27 cm minimum size
- Sole – 24 cm minimum size
- Flounder – 25 cm minimum size
- Haddock – 30 cm minimum size
- Pollack – 30 cm minimum size
- Pouting – 20 cm minimum size
- Dab – 23 cm minimum size
- Skate and Rays – 40 cm (wing tip to wing tip)
- Turbot – 30 cm minimum size
- Brill – 30 cm minimum size
- Conger Eel – No minimum size (catch and release encouraged)
- Dogfish / Bull Huss – No set limit (please return smaller fish)
- Smoothhound – No set limit, best to release breeding females
If you are planning to fish in the sea, it is worth paying slightly more for the mid-range reels.
Things to keep in mind
- Always measure from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin.
- If your catch is below the legal size, it must be released immediately.
- Some areas, such as Cornwall and Kent & Essex IFCAs, have local variations — check before fishing.
- You can view official guidance at: GOV.UK – Fishing rules & regulations
Fishing within size limits isn’t just about following the law — it’s about protecting the sport we love. By letting the small fish go, you help preserve the balance of our seas and make every catch that much more rewarding.