Megrim
Megrim is a deep-water flatfish landed in quantity by UK trawlers, particularly out of Cornish ports like Newlyn, yet rarely seen on British plates — most of the catch heads straight to Spain and France.
Shore anglers almost never encounter one; it lives too deep. For boat anglers working serious depth over soft ground, it's an occasional bycatch worth knowing.
Scientific Name: Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis
Also known as Whiff, Megrim Sole, Cornish Sole
- Slim, oval-bodied left-eyed flatfish — both eyes sit on the left side of the head, which is large relative to the body, with a notably big mouth.
- Pale orange-yellow to light brown on the eyed side, sometimes with a slightly translucent look; dorsal and anal fins run far back along the body and can show black edging.
- Grows to around 2ft and 4lb at maximum; the UK shore record sits at 2lb 6oz, and most fish encountered run well under that.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to UK and northeast Atlantic waters; found all around the British Isles but rarely in water shallower than 50 metres — most fish live at 200–300m, and some go beyond 1,000m.
- Prefers clean muddy or sandy seabeds; avoids broken, rocky or weedy ground entirely.
- Believed to migrate west of the British Isles to spawn; Cornish and southwest English waters are among the most productive fishing grounds for the species.
Key Locations
- Cornwall and the southwest — Newlyn-based trawlers land significant quantities; the deep grounds off the southwest peninsula are among the most productive in the UK.
- West of Ireland and the Celtic Sea — major commercial grounds that also fall within range of UK offshore vessels.
- Deep water all around the British Isles; any offshore boat mark in 100m-plus over clean ground is potential megrim territory.
Specific Spots
- Flat, featureless muddy or sandy bottom in deep offshore water — this fish has no interest in structure or reef edges.
- Depth is the key variable: target 100m-plus when boat fishing; fish caught shallower than 50m are genuinely unusual.
- Stays close to the seabed, hunting small fish and crustaceans that live on or just above the bottom — keep rigs hard on the deck.
Megrim FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Megrim?
Fresh sandeel or strips of fish (mackerel, herring) are the standard baits; squid strip also works and stays on the hook well at depth. Small shrimp or prawn baits cover the crustacean side of the diet, useful when fishing mixed-species deep-water marks.
When is the best time to fish for Megrim?
Available year-round, though Cornish sources suggest mid-summer through autumn as the prime window for fish in best condition from southwest English waters. No defined closed season for recreational anglers; commercial catches are quota-managed.
How do you catch Megrim?
Megrim is almost exclusively a boat-caught species taken incidentally while fishing deep, clean ground for other bottom-dwelling fish. Shore fishing for megrim is effectively impossible given the depths it inhabits.
What do Megrim eat?
Primarily small bottom-dwelling fish, which it sucks up with that oversized mouth; also takes crustaceans and dislodged shellfish. Small fish-strip baits or sandeel work well as direct imitations when targeting it deliberately on a boat rod.
Where do Megrim live?
Native to UK and northeast Atlantic waters; found all around the British Isles but rarely in water shallower than 50 metres, most fish live at 200–300m, and some go beyond 1,000m. Prefers clean muddy or sandy seabeds; avoids broken, rocky or weedy ground entirely.
See it in the app
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