Whiting

Merlangius merlangus · European whiting, silver whiting, channel whiting

Water temp

45–57°F

Peak season

Oct–Jan

Best light

Daytime

IGFA record

—

Photo: Georges Jansoone (JoJan) - · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Overview Where & When How to Catch Gear Regulations Records Forecast Catches

Overview

Whiting are slim, silver gadoids with a small dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin, a protruding upper jaw and little or no chin barbel, found from Norway and Iceland to the Mediterranean and abundant in the North Sea, Irish Sea and English Channel. They move into shallow sandy bays, estuaries and surf beaches as water cools in autumn, feeding greedily on worms, shrimps and small fish after dark. Few European sea fish are easier to catch in numbers, which makes them a winter mainstay for shore anglers and a good target for newcomers.

Typical size8–16 oz (0.2–0.5 kg); 10–14 in

Trophy2 lb+ from the shore; 3 lb+ from a boat

Table fareGood — soft white flesh, best eaten the day it is caught

Where & when

Whiting arrive inshore in September–October and peak through December and January; they drop back offshore to spawn as spring arrives.

Chesil Beach, United KingdomDorset shingle beach; classic winter whiting marks after dark Dungeness, United KingdomKent's deep-water shingle point with prolific autumn whiting Dublin Bay, IrelandPiers and beaches around Dún Laoghaire fish well in winter

How to catch

Three-hook flapper rigCast a three-hook flapper with size 1–2 long-shank hooks baited with lugworm or mackerel strip 50–100 yards into the surf after dark. Whiting hit hard and often come two or three at a time; recast frequently and keep baits fresh.

Boat ledgering on sandAnchor over clean sand or mud in 30–80 ft and fish a two- or three-hook paternoster with squid and worm cocktails on the bottom. A luminous bead above each hook helps in murky winter water.

Gear

Rod12–13' beachcaster rated 4–6 oz, or 7' 12 lb-class boat rod

ReelMultiplier or 6000 spinning

Line15–18 lb mono or 20–30 lb braid; 60 lb shock leader for casting

Lures

small metal jigssabiki-style feathersscented soft-plastic worms

Baits

lugwormmackerel stripsquidragwormsandeel

Regulations

No license is required for recreational sea angling in the UK or Ireland, but EU and national minimum sizes apply to whiting and some countries set bag limits. Check the national marine agency for current rules.

Marine Management Organisation (UK)

Records

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

Frequently asked

When is the best time to catch whiting from the beach?

An hour after dark on a flooding tide in late autumn and winter is prime time. Whiting feed most confidently at night and in colored water after a blow, and a rising tide pushes them onto the beaches within casting range. Calm, clear, bright days are the worst conditions.

Bite forecast — Whiting

Location

Recent catches

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

Family	Cods (Gadidae)
Habitat	surf, bay, estuary, offshore, flats
Feeds	Daytime
Tolerates	37–64°F
Tide matters	Yes