Garfish
Garfish arrive along UK coasts each spring as one of the first signs the sea is warming up.
Slender, acrobatic, and built like a miniature marlin, they're a genuine target species for shore and boat anglers across the south and west — not just accidental bycatch from mackerel sessions.
Their habit of hunting right at the surface makes them visible, exciting, and genuinely tricky to hook cleanly.
Scientific Name: Belone belone
Also known as Green bones, garpike, sea needle, needlefish
- Extremely elongated body with a long, beak-like jaw lined with sharp teeth; lower jaw typically longer than the upper — unmistakable in hand.
- Bright blue-green back fading to silver flanks with flashes of yellow; the lateral line runs low along the body rather than mid-flank.
- Dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins all set far back near the tail, giving the fish an almost eel-like profile when swimming.
- Most fish run just over 1lb; 2lb is a good fish, and anything over 2lb qualifies as a specimen. British record stands at 3lb 9oz.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- A native migratory species — garfish spend winter offshore in deeper Atlantic and North Sea water, then push inshore from spring through late summer.
- Most common along the south and west coasts of England, Wales, and throughout Ireland; less numerous in the north, though they do reach Scottish waters.
- Strictly pelagic and marine — they live and feed right at the surface of the sea, not in freshwater or on the bottom.
- Spawn in inshore waters, including smaller estuaries and seagrass beds, where their sticky-tendrilled eggs attach to floating material and vegetation.
Key Locations
- English Channel coast (Dorset to Kent) — the first stretch to see fish each spring, with piers and breakwaters producing from April onward.
- Southwest England (Cornwall, Devon) — consistent numbers through summer; garfish are a fixture of the local sea-angling calendar here.
- South and west Wales — good shore fishing from headlands and piers as fish move up the Bristol Channel.
- Ireland's south and west coasts — garfish are common throughout summer, often mixed in with mackerel shoals.
- Merseyside and northwest England — fish push this far north by May, though numbers are lower than further south.
Specific Spots
- Stone breakwaters, piers, and jetties concentrate garfish because the structure breaks tidal flow and pushes baitfish to the surface nearby.
- Steep-to beaches and deep-water rock ledges hold fish throughout the season — shallow surf beaches only produce reliably in the two hours around high water on bigger tides.
- Inside harbours and the mouths of small estuaries are productive early in the season (April–June) when fish move inshore to spawn.
- From July onward, open sea rock marks offering deeper water close to shore become more reliable as inshore numbers thin out.
Garfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Garfish?
Slim, silver metal lures and small spoons (5–15g) retrieved steadily through the surface layer are the go-to, anything that looks like a sandeel or small sprat works well.
What flies work for Garfish?
Small, slim saltwater streamers in silver, white, or blue-green, tied to imitate sandeels, are the most effective fly choice; patterns like Clouser Minnows (which imitate baitfish) and simple Deceiver-style ties work well stripped fast across the surface.
When is the best time to fish for Garfish?
Spring (April–May): First fish appear along the Channel coast and southwest; early-season fish tend to run larger. Early summer (May–June): Peak inshore numbers across the south and west; fish move into estuaries and harbour mouths to spawn.
How do you catch Garfish?
Most UK anglers fish for garfish from shore, piers, breakwaters, and rock ledges, using either a float rig with bait or a small lure cast and retrieved just under the surface. Boat anglers encounter them regularly while drifting for mackerel.
What do Garfish eat?
Feeds almost exclusively on small fish, sandeels, sprats, herring, and immature fry, hunting them right at the surface. Slim, silver lures and sandeel imitations directly match this forage.
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