- Specimens recorded
- 500 (2000–2025)
- Years on record
- 2000–2025
- Top venue by specimens
- Red Bay
- Irish record (Greater Spotted Dogfish)
- 10.77kg (23lb 12oz)
Dogfish in Ireland
Dogfish are small, common sharks found on the seabed around the Irish coast, grouped here across three species that ISFC and fishing.ie both track under one umbrella: Greater Spotted Dogfish (also called bull huss or nursehound), Lesser Spotted Dogfish (also called rough hound or lesser spotted catshark), and Blackmouthed Dogfish, a less commonly encountered deeper-water relative.
All three species are frequent incidental catches for anglers bottom-fishing for other species, though each has a dedicated following among specimen hunters given their distinct size classes and the satisfaction of correctly identifying and targeting a specific species.
Dogfish are not the same species as Smooth Hound, a larger, unrelated shark that ISFC tracks entirely separately despite the superficially similar common name.
When Dogfish Fish in Ireland
ISFC specimens across all three dogfish species are recorded broadly through the fishing season, with numbers reflecting general bottom-fishing activity around the coast rather than a sharply defined peak season for the group as a whole.
Based on ISFC specimen records — reflects where anglers fish and submit claims, not necessarily where the species is most abundant.
Where Dogfish Fish Best
Venue rankings below come from ratified specimen submissions, not scientific stock surveys — popular, well-fished venues will always show more specimens than remote or lightly-fished ones holding the same fish.
Red Bay, Kenmare Bay, and Cork Harbour lead the combined dogfish specimen record, with Islandmagee also contributing — a spread across the north, southwest, and south coasts reflecting the group's wide general distribution.
See every fishing.ie venue for dogfish — ISFC-ranked or not — in the full directory below.
Size and Specimens
Greater Spotted Dogfish is considerably larger than its Lesser Spotted and Blackmouthed relatives, and the specimen thresholds for each species reflect that real size difference rather than one being an easier target than the others.
Based on ISFC specimen and threshold records — reflects where anglers fish and submit claims, not necessarily where the species is most abundant.
How to Catch Dogfish
Bottom-fished bait — fish strip, squid, or worm — fished hard on the seabed takes all three dogfish species, usually as part of general bottom fishing rather than a highly specialised approach.
Greater Spotted Dogfish in particular respond well to a slightly larger bait presentation given their bigger average size compared to the other two species.
Correct identification between the three species — and against unrelated look-alikes like Smooth Hound — matters for anyone specifically pursuing a specimen of a particular dogfish species.
Dogfish have rough, sandpaper-like skin, so careful handling avoids unnecessary abrasion injury to hands during unhooking and release.
Rules and Conservation
No state licence is required for sea angling from shore or boat in the Republic of Ireland.
No licence is required for sea angling in Northern Ireland — DAERA rod licences apply to freshwater and game/coarse fishing, not sea fishing.
Dogfish Venues in Ireland
33 more waters with ISFC specimens (not yet on fishing.ie)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the dogfish species tracked here?
Greater Spotted Dogfish (bull huss/nursehound) is the largest; Lesser Spotted Dogfish is smaller and more commonly encountered; Blackmouthed Dogfish is a less common deeper-water relative. All three are tracked separately by ISFC but combined on this page.
Is Smooth Hound a type of dogfish?
No — despite the similar-sounding common names, Smooth Hound is a different, larger shark species that ISFC tracks entirely separately from the dogfish group.
Where's the best dogfish fishing in Ireland?
Red Bay, Kenmare Bay, and Cork Harbour lead the combined ISFC specimen record.
Do I need a licence for dogfish fishing?
No — sea angling from shore or boat doesn't require a licence in Ireland.