Whiting

• Slim silver gadoid
• Dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin
• No obvious chin barbel
• Upper jaw slightly longer than the lower

Most shore fish 20–35 cm. 40 cm+ is a good one.

Colour

Olive-sand back, silver sides, white belly, dark pectoral spot.

Fins

Three dorsals, two anals, slightly forked tail.

Mouth

Terminal, no obvious barbel.

Ranked for this species, not as a universal law. Local crab runs and what is actually fresh matter more.

• LugwormThread the worm so the hook is hidden and the tail still moves. A bunch for bigger fish; a single for dabs.Strong target
• RagwormHook once through the head so it wriggles. A whole king rag for bass; a small harbour rag for dabs.Strong target
• Black lugThread so the hook is hidden. A bunch, often bound, for a long chuck. Tougher than blow lug, so it survives the punch better.Good target
• MackerelA thin strip on a small hook; a side on a Pennel; a whole fish on a running tope rig.Good target
• SquidA strip on a flapper; a whole small squid or a wrap over fish on a Pennel.Good target
• Fish stripsThin for whiting; thicker for a dogfish. Hook once so it flutters.Possible target

• 2-hook flapperThe default UK beach rig. Two snoods above a lead, baits off the bottom, easy to tie, easy to fish.Beginner
• 3-hook flapperThe same idea with a third bait. More fish when they are small and shoaling; more tangles when they are not.Beginner
• 1-up 1-downOne bait on a snood above the lead, one on a flowing trace below. Covers the bottom and a few inches up.Beginner
• PaternosterSnoods standing off the main backbone on booms or stiff snoods. Useful in a tide so baits do not wrap the lead.Beginner
• Three-hook clipped-downThree short baits held to the leader, released at range. A match-style rig for shoaling small fish when you already clip two cleanly.Advanced

Hooks: 4–1; size 2 is a good all-rounder.