Round fish · Boat

Haddock

North-east boat marks on mixed ground. They bite gently, so use small baits.

Haddock
Image: Jonathan Couch, A History of the Fishes of the British Islands (1862–65), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Know it
Black lateral line and a dark 'thumbprint' blotch above the pectoral fin.
Bait
Mussel, lug, squid on small hooks; muppets
Rigs
Two-hook flapperPirk and muppets
Table
Excellent eating The classic chippy fish. Superb fresh.

Season

Typical months on the North West and North East coasts, with this month ringed. Seasons shift a few weeks with water temperature and run differently around the coast: see each region's headline fish below.

North Sea
PeakPresentRareIrish Sea = North Wales to Cumbria · North Sea = Yorkshire to Northumberland

Legal minimum size

Haddock

Last checked 18 October 2026

Measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail (rays: wing tip to wing tip). Each region links to its regulator.

AreaMinimum
North West England30cm
North Wales30cm
Yorkshire to the TyneNo legal minimum
Northumberland30cm
Cardigan Bay and the Llyn30cm
Suffolk, Norfolk and the Wash30cm

No size for this fish is listed in the regional rules we checked for Pembrokeshire, Gower and South Wales, Severn estuary, Somerset and North Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. That may mean none is set, or that the national rules apply: check locally.

and 9 other regions

Rules change, usually each spring. Check the regulator for the area before you keep a fish.

How to cook it

The classic chippy fish. Superb fresh. Simple ways to cook it at home. More on bleeding, gutting, filleting and freezing in From sea to plate.

Method 1

Battered

Dip fillets in seasoned flour, then batter, and deep fry until golden. Serve with chips and lemon.

Method 2

Poached in milk

Poach fillets gently in milk with a bay leaf for 5 to 6 minutes. Use the milk for a parsley sauce, or flake the fish into a pie.