All species
UK shore species
Brill
Scophthalmus rhombus
ledger
Habitat
Sand with tide, similar ground to turbot, sometimes slightly less wild water.
Season
Peak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
Also possible: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
The smoother cousin of turbot. Still left-eyed, still a fish-eater, still uncommon from the average beach.
- Left-eyed
- Smoother than a turbot — no heavy tubercles
- More elongated disc than a turbot
- Mottled sandy-brown, sometimes with pale and dark blotches
A shore brill is a bonus fish.
- Colour
- Mottled, smoother, left-eyed.
- Fins
- Slightly more oval than turbot.
- Mouth
- Large for a flatfish.
Ranked for this species, not as a universal law. Local crab runs and what is actually fresh matter more.
- SandeelHead-hooked so it swims, or a Pennel through the head and the middle. Bind if you are casting far.Strong target
- MackerelA thin strip on a small hook; a side on a Pennel; a whole fish on a running tope rig.Good target
- Fish stripsThin for whiting; thicker for a dogfish. Hook once so it flutters.Good target
- Pennel rigTwo hooks on one bait — one in the head, one in the body. The way to fish a crab, a squid wrap or a big worm.Intermediate
- Long snood rigA single bait on a long flowing trace so it moves in the tide. Turbot, brill, a fussy bass.Intermediate
- Single-hook clipped-downThe bait is held against the leader with a bait clip so it flies as one and releases in the water. The way to punch a bait into a headwind.Advanced
Hooks: 1/0–3/0