Atlantic Wolffish
Atlantic wolffish live on the rocky seafloor off Canada's East Coast, from the Grand Banks and Scotian Shelf north to the Labrador Sea and Davis Strait.
They're rarely targeted deliberately by sport anglers — most encounters happen as bycatch while fishing for cod or halibut. Their bizarre appearance draws a crowd at the gunwale every time.
Under Canada's Species at Risk Act, they carry Special Concern status, so careful release is mandatory.
Scientific Name: Anarhichas lupus
Also known as Atlantic catfish, striped wolffish, seawolf, sea cat, ocean catfish, devil fish, catfish (local Maritime usage)
- Light grey body with 10–15 dark vertical bars running from the back down the sides — the striped pattern is the clearest field mark separating this species from the spotted and northern wolffish.
- Large, rounded head with prominent canine teeth projecting from the front of the jaw, plus three sets of crushing teeth on the roof of the mouth for grinding hard-shelled prey.
- Elongated, eel-like body with large pectoral fins and a long continuous dorsal fin running nearly the full length of the back.
- Most fish run 3–10 lb; larger specimens reach 150 cm and close to 40 lb, though fish that size are rare in Canadian waters today.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Northwest Atlantic; in Canada found from the Davis Strait off Baffin Island south through the Labrador Sea, Grand Banks, and Scotian Shelf to the Gulf of Maine boundary.
- Most abundant on the Grand Banks and Scotian Shelf; also present in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Lives on complex rocky reef and hard-bottom habitat, occasionally over sand or mud; depth range roughly 20–500 m, most commonly 18–110 m.
- Strictly marine and demersal — this is a deep, cold-saltwater fish with no freshwater presence.
Key Locations
- Grand Banks, Newfoundland — historically the core of Canadian wolffish abundance; most encounters today are bycatch during groundfish trips.
- Scotian Shelf, Nova Scotia — rocky bottom habitat supports wolffish alongside cod and halibut fisheries.
- Labrador Sea and Davis Strait — northern extent of the Canadian range; fish here tend to mature at smaller sizes than southern populations.
- Gulf of St. Lawrence — present on hard-bottom areas; research by Memorial University's Marine Institute has focused on wolffish survival in this region.
Specific Spots
- Rocky reef structure and boulder fields on the seafloor — wolffish den in crevices and rarely stray far, so putting bait directly on hard bottom is essential.
- Drop-offs and ledges where rocky substrate meets softer bottom concentrate both the fish and the urchins and crabs they feed on.
- Deeper water through summer; some movement to shallower rocky ground in autumn during spawning, when pairs occupy the same den site.
Atlantic Wolffish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Atlantic Wolffish?
Whole or cut crab, fresh clam, squid, and sea urchin are the most consistent baits, they match the natural diet and can be fished stationary on a bottom rig.
When is the best time to fish for Atlantic Wolffish?
Year-round residents on the seafloor, wolffish don't make large seasonal migrations, so bycatch encounters can happen any time bottom fishing is active. Autumn (September–October) is peak spawning season; fish pair up and hold even tighter to rocky den sites during this period.
How do you catch Atlantic Wolffish?
Almost no one targets wolffish deliberately in Canadian waters, encounters happen while bottom-fishing for cod, halibut, or other groundfish over rocky structure from a boat. When one comes up, it's a bycatch event.
What do Atlantic Wolffish eat?
Sea urchins, crabs (including green crab and hermit crab), scallops, large snails, and other hard-shelled bottom invertebrates, the crushing teeth are built for exactly this. Bottom-fished whole crab, clam, or squid baits presented on the seafloor match this feeding style directly.
Where do Atlantic Wolffish live?
Native to the Northwest Atlantic; in Canada found from the Davis Strait off Baffin Island south through the Labrador Sea, Grand Banks, and Scotian Shelf to the Gulf of Maine boundary. Most abundant on the Grand Banks and Scotian Shelf; also present in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off Newfoundland and Labrador.
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