Lesser Spotted Dogfish
The lesser spotted dogfish is the most common shark in Dutch coastal waters, turning up regularly as bycatch in the North Sea.
Shore and boat anglers fishing the Dutch coast occasionally target them deliberately, but most encounters happen while fishing for flatfish or other bottom species.
Small, tough, and surprisingly tenacious on light tackle, they're a genuine piece of the North Sea ecosystem.
Scientific Name: Scyliorhinus canicula
Also known as Hondshaai, kleine hondshaai, kathaai, small spotted catshark
- Sandy to tan flanks covered in small dark spots; pale white underside — classic counter-shading for a bottom-dwelling shark.
- Nasal flaps meet at the mouth (key ID point separating it from the larger greater spotted dogfish, whose flaps are separate).
- Rough, sandpaper-like skin — the rasp-like texture is distinctive in hand and can abrade bare skin.
- Females reach roughly 52–65 cm; males typically 49–55 cm. Fish over 4 lbs are exceptional.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the North Sea and northeastern Atlantic; present along the entire Dutch coast and into the southern North Sea.
- A true bottom dweller — found from shallow nearshore zones down to several hundred metres, though most Dutch encounters happen in shallower coastal and tidal areas.
- Tolerates a range of substrates: clean sand, mixed ground, reef, and kelp — wherever prey is available on the seabed.
- Egg cases (mermaid's purses) wash up regularly on Dutch beaches, confirming local breeding activity in coastal waters.
Key Locations
- Dutch North Sea coast — present along the full coastline; encountered by shore anglers and boat anglers targeting bottom species.
- Wadden Sea — shrimp trawlers regularly catch them as bycatch; tagging work here has produced data on North Sea-wide movements.
- Southern North Sea offshore grounds — Dutch beam trawlers working mixed and sandy bottom regularly encounter them.
Specific Spots
- Sandy and mixed-ground seabed close to structure — wrecks, rocky outcrops, and reef edges concentrate prey and hold dogfish.
- Tidal channels and gullies along the Dutch coast where current pushes food items along the bottom.
- Nearshore areas adjacent to the Wadden Sea, where shrimp trawlers regularly encounter them as bycatch.
- Around kelp and weed beds — fish over heavily vegetated ground can be noticeably darker, almost black, matching their surroundings.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Lesser Spotted Dogfish?
Lugworm, ragworm, and squid are reliable all-round baits fished on the bottom, standard North Sea bottom-fishing rigs work well. Mackerel strip or sandeel fished on a simple running leger covers their fish-eating side and often outfishes worm baits in areas with active feeding.
When is the best time to fish for Lesser Spotted Dogfish?
Present year-round in Dutch coastal waters, but catches are more consistent from late spring through autumn when water temperatures rise. Winter fishing is possible but encounters drop off as fish move to deeper water in the coldest months.
How do you catch Lesser Spotted Dogfish?
Most Dutch anglers encounter dogfish while bottom-fishing for flatfish from boat or shore along the North Sea coast. Deliberate targeting means fishing fresh bait hard on the seabed in tidal channels or near structure, usually from a boat over mixed or sandy ground.
What do Lesser Spotted Dogfish eat?
Bottom-dwelling invertebrates, crabs, shrimp, worms, and molluscs, make up the bulk of the diet; fresh or frozen crab, squid, and lugworm are the go-to baits for anglers targeting them deliberately.
Where do Lesser Spotted Dogfish live?
Native to the North Sea and northeastern Atlantic; present along the entire Dutch coast and into the southern North Sea. A true bottom dweller, found from shallow nearshore zones down to several hundred metres, though most Dutch encounters happen in shallower coastal and tidal areas.
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