UK Fish Species

2021 Review by Jason Sawyer

There is plenty of different fish species found in British waters. Some of which are native and other species introduced.

Native freshwater fish

The Angler's Book Of British Freshwater Fish

The Angler’s Book Of British Freshwater Fish

There are currently 82 species of freshwater coarse fish identified around the UK and Great Britain. The NHM (Natural History Museum) keeps a record of British freshwater fishes with scientific names of all species including fish from brackish waters, lakes, rivers, streams and man-made pools.

The anglers book of British freshwater fish is a reference guide for anglers to identify the many types of freshwater fish that can be caught around the British Isles. Paul Duffield the author of the book is an experienced angler that has collected information together with habitat, baits and fishing methods used.

The most popular species of fish that anglers will encounter coarse fishing, fly fishing in rivers or carp fishing in lakes native to our British waters are listed below:

Freshwater fish species

  • Barbel
  • Bleak
  • Bream
  • Bitterling
  • Bullhead
  • Burbot
  • Carp
  • Catfish
  • Chub
  • Crucian Carp
  • Dace
  • Eel
  • Gold Fish
  • Grass Carp
  • Grayling
  • Gudgeon
  • Minnow
  • Nine-spined Stickleback
  • Perch
  • Pike
  • Pink Salmon
  • Pollan
  • Powan
  • Roach
  • Rudd
  • Ruffe
  • Smelt
  • Sturgeon
  • Sunbleak
  • Tench
  • Zander

To improve your chances of catching any of the coarse freshwater fish above then check out our carp fishing tackle and fly fishing kits reviewed by Species Hunter experts.

Native saltwater fish

The Angler's Book of British Sea Fish

The Angler’s Book of British Sea Fish

British sea fishing has over 300 different species of fish found in coastal waters. This is what makes sea fishing so exciting, as you never know what you will catch.

The anglers book of British sea fish is the definitive guide to the British marine fish. Illustrated in full colour, the distribution, habitats and diet of all 147 species currently listed in the official British records are provided. The minimum size limits for keeping fish set by the EU and the Inshore Fishery and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), are listed in the chapter on ‘keeping the fish you catch’.

The book offers saltwater fish identification in conjunction with the Institute of Fisheries Management and the Environment Agency.  IFM members can purchase the book at a discounted cost. Some of the most popular saltwater fish anglers will encounter are listed below:

Sea fish species

  • Bass
  • Black Bream
  • Red Bream
  • Coal Fish
  • Cod
  • Garfish
  • Gurnard
  • Haddock
  • John Dory
  • Ling
  • Mackerel
  • Monkfish
  • Mullet
  • Pollack
  • Pouting
  • Weever
  • Whiting
  • Wrasse
  • Brill
  • Dab
  • Flounder
  • Halibut
  • Plaice
  • Sole
  • Turbot
  • Eel
  • Bull Huss
  • Common Skate
  • Spotted Dogfish
  • Smoothhound
  • Sting Ray
  • Thornback Ray
  • Tope

To improve your chances of catching any of the saltwater fish species above check out our sea fishing kits and sea fishing rods reviewed by Species Hunter experts.

Jason Sawyer

Jason Sawyer
Expert UK Fish Species Hunter

I have now caught over 100 different species of fish from British waters. My site is completely independent, financed only by you clicking on retailer links and buying something (at no extra cost to you). If you do - thanks a million I wish you tight lines fishing!