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Fish guide

Topknot

Zeugopterus punctatus · Flatfish

Topknot
Photo: Drägüs, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
What fish is this?Identify a fish from a photo

A small, almost round flatfish that lives on rocky and broken ground, mostly met by light rock fishing anglers around the UK and Ireland.[1]

How to recognise it

  • Almost round, mottled brown and white, with wide fins around the body and a very small tail.[1]
  • Scales on the eyed side feel rough, like fur.[2]
  • Clings to vertical rock by suction, unlike most flatfish which stay on sand.[1]

When and where

Found over
rocky ground[1]
Baits
worms, fish strip, peeler crab[1]
Light
Seems to feed more during daylight.[1]

Sources

  1. British Sea Fishing: Topknot
  2. FishBase: Zeugopterus punctatus

These notes are a draft: we gathered them from the sources above and are still checking them. We don't work out best times for this fish yet. The size rules come from the same checked byelaws as every other fish.

Size and bag limit

Minimum size
Sizes vary along the coast. Pick your spot to see the rule there.
Bag limit
None set for the whole UK.
Minimum sizes around the UK
AreaMinimum size
Kent & Essex IFCANone
Sussex IFCANone
Southern IFCANone
Devon & Severn IFCANone
Cornwall IFCANone
Isles of Scilly IFCANot checked yet
North Western IFCANone
North Eastern IFCANot checked yet
Northumberland IFCANot checked yet
Eastern IFCANone
Welsh GovernmentNot checked yet
Scottish GovernmentNot checked yet
DAERA (Northern Ireland)Not checked yet