Brill
Brill are a flatfish species found all around British coasts, though most common in southern waters.
Less frequently caught than turbot, they've become a genuine target for species hunters and boat anglers working offshore banks and sandy ground from Sussex to Cornwall.
Their table quality is high enough that commercial boats actively target them, which tells you something about their value as a catch.
Scientific Name: Scophthalmus rhombus
Also known as Barbue
- Left-eyed flatfish with an oval, elongated outline — noticeably less broad-bodied than turbot, which has a more diamond shape.
- Sandy brown on top with scattered darker and lighter flecks; creamy or pinkish-white underside. Camouflage pattern does not extend onto the tail fin.
- Smooth small scales across the body (turbot has rough raised tubercles instead). The front rays of the dorsal fin are free of the fin membrane, giving a frilly look.
- Average rod-caught fish run around 4 lb; a big brill goes 10 lb or more. Maximum size reaches around 75 cm and up to 18 lb, though fish that size are rare.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to UK waters; found all around Britain and Ireland, but noticeably more common along southern coasts than northern ones.
- Prefers sandy or muddy seabed. Typically found from fairly shallow inshore ground down to around 100 m, with most angling action between 2–25 m.
- Key angling grounds include the Sussex coast offshore banks, Lyme Bay and the waters off Lulworth Cove in Dorset, and Cornish waters including the Western Channel.
- Stocks in the Western Channel (ICES area VIIe) are assessed as healthy, with biomass above sustainable levels and stable landings over recent decades.
Key Locations
- Sussex coast offshore banks — Brighton charter boats have developed a reputation for consistent turbot and brill fishing on deep offshore marks, with August and September the peak months.
- Lyme Bay and off Lulworth Cove, Dorset — day boats from Weymouth regularly land brill from these grounds through summer.
- Cornish waters (Western Channel, ICES VIIe) — significant commercial and recreational catches; Newlyn and Plymouth are active landing ports.
- All southern British coasts generally hold more fish than northern waters, though brill are recorded around the entire coastline.
Specific Spots
- Sandy banks and gullies offshore — brill lie flat on the bottom waiting for prey to pass over, so working a bait through the dips between banks puts it right in the feeding zone.
- Edges where sandy ground meets muddier patches hold fish, particularly where tidal flow concentrates baitfish and sandeels moving along the bottom.
- Deeper water channels adjacent to shallower banks give brill a quick route to feeding areas; drifting a bait along these transitions covers the most productive ground.
Brill FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Brill?
Whole fresh or live sandeels and launce are the standout baits, rig them on a flowing trace or up-and-over rig and fish them close to the bottom on the drift. Mackerel strip on a Pennel clip-down rig is a reliable alternative when sandeels aren't available. Fresh-caught mackerel from the same trip works well.
When is the best time to fish for Brill?
Summer and autumn are the most productive period, with July through November generally giving the best boat fishing. August and September are peak months on Sussex offshore marks, when brill shoal up on deeper banks. Brill can be caught year-round, but catches drop off noticeably through winter and early spring.
How do you catch Brill?
Most UK brill fishing is done from charter or private boats, drifting over sandy offshore banks with fresh sandeel or mackerel strip fished hard on the bottom.
What do Brill eat?
Sandeels and launce are the primary forage, brill hunt them along the seabed, which is why whole fresh or live sandeels are consistently the top bait. Soft plastic sandeel lures work on the same principle. Small fish including sprats and mackerel strips are effective secondary baits.
Where do Brill live?
Native to UK waters; found all around Britain and Ireland, but noticeably more common along southern coasts than northern ones. Prefers sandy or muddy seabed. Typically found from fairly shallow inshore ground down to around 100 m, with most angling action between 2–25 m.
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