Species › Europe, UK & Ireland · Saltwater › Garfish

Saltwater

Garfish

Belone belone · Garpike, Needlefish, Sea pike

Water temp
55–68°F
Peak season
May–Jun
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
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Garfish (Belone belone1.jpg)

Photo: Krüger · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Garfish are long, thin, silver-green fish with an elongated beak full of tiny teeth, fins set far back and bones that are naturally green. They range the eastern Atlantic from Norway and the Baltic to Morocco and the Mediterranean and Black Sea, living near the surface over open water and migrating inshore in spring to spawn in weed-rich shallow bays. They feed by day on small fish, crustaceans and insects at the surface, often chasing bait alongside mackerel. In Denmark and Sweden the spring "hornfisk" run is a major event, and in Britain they are a light-tackle summer bonus that fights with jumps and tail-walks out of proportion to its size.

Typical size8–16 oz (0.2–0.5 kg); 20–30 in
Trophy2 lb+ (0.9 kg+)
Table fareGood — firm, sweet flesh despite the green bones; fried or smoked in Scandinavia

Where & when

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The Baltic and Danish run peaks in May as fish come inshore to spawn in eelgrass; British and Irish garfish arrive with the mackerel in May–June and stay into September.

Øresund, DenmarkFamous spring hornfisk fishing from Copenhagen coastsChesil Beach, United KingdomSummer garfish with the mackerelKiel Fjord, GermanyBaltic spring run; float and spoon fishing

How to catch

Float fishing a fish stripSuspend a thin strip of mackerel belly or sandeel 2–4 ft under a slim float on a small size 6–8 long-shank hook, and let it drift with the current or wind. Garfish grab and run, so wait until the float sails away before striking, since the beak makes hook-ups tricky.
Small spoons and silk-thread rigsIn the Baltic, cast a small 10–20 g spoon or, classically, a lure with a tassel of silk thread in place of a hook that tangles in the garfish's teeth. Retrieve fast near the surface and expect jumping fish.

Gear

Rod8–10' light spinning or float rod
Reel2500–3000 spinning
Line8–12 lb mono or 10–15 lb braid

Lures

Small casting spoonSilk-thread garfish lureSmall sabiki or feathers

Baits

Mackerel stripSandeelShrimp or prawn

Regulations

Garfish have no specific recreational limits in most of Europe, and sea angling in the UK, Ireland and Germany's Baltic coast is free or licence-light; Denmark requires a national angling licence for adults. Check national rules.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

Why are garfish bones green?

Garfish bones contain biliverdin, a harmless green bile pigment, which colors the skeleton a vivid blue-green when cooked. It is completely safe to eat and has no effect on taste; the flesh is firm and slightly sweet, and the green bones make the fish easy to pick clean.

Bite forecast — Garfish

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Garfish.

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