Lure of the lone wolf

A WOLF-FISH CERTAINLY has distinctive looks, but it is the jaws that make this fish a formidable adversary. With large and sharp front teeth, the jaws are capable of serious power having obvious crushing pads towards the throat. I’ve seen them grab a wooden gaff handle and seriously dig deep into it, and they refuse to let go.

Growing close to 30lb, this muscular fish puts up a stubborn fight. A fish that inhabits depths of about 20 to 300 metres, it is easy to identify with its broad head and thick body that tapers quickly to the tail. Its body colour is usually a blue-slate grey, but the flanks are marked with a series of nine to 12 black vertical dark stripes.

Being a somewhat elusive fish, mainly because of the depth it prefers to live, to give yourself the best chance of catching one you need to fish specifically for them. You’re unlikely to catch a wolf-fish, also known as a catfish, when looking for cod and halibut because the latter are typically in much