Atlantic wolffish

Getting started

Your first try for Atlantic wolffish

One recommended starting point: drift fishing with bait on the bottom from a boat. More methods are listed under “How to fish”.

1. 1. Place and time

   • The wolffish stay on hard bottom with rocks and bedrock, where there are sea urchins, shellfish and crabs.2,4,5,6Sources×Fishing tip from a specialist source · Applies to all regions2ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetSteinbit4ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadTid for steinbit5ExperienceHooked.noHvordan fiske gråsteinbit – art nummer 7 / 526ExperienceFiskeavisenHvordan fiske steinbiten fra drivende småbåtAll sources on this page
   • Best in May–Aug.

2. 2. Tackle

   Hook

   Strong hooks. Alvestad usually uses 4/0–7/0, and Fiskeavisen uses a J-hook in size 4/0.4,6Sources×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadTid for steinbit6ExperienceFiskeavisenHvordan fiske steinbiten fra drivende småbåtAll sources on this page

   Rod and line

   A rod with some backbone, so that you can set a hard strike in the tooth-filled jaws. Alvestad mentions a 15–40 lb rod, and Jakt & Fiske a boat rod that can handle sinkers of 200–500 g, with 0.30–0.45 mm multifilament and a long, thick mono leader.4,7Sources×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadTid for steinbit7ExperienceJakt & FiskeSlik fisker du steinbitAll sources on this page

   Attractors

   Strong colours, spinner blades, squid, rubber tubes or beads. Alvestad believes wolffish like yellow and pink. Jakt & Fiske writes that most people bump the baits on the bottom and use strong colours.4,6,7,8Sources×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadTid for steinbit6ExperienceFiskeavisenHvordan fiske steinbiten fra drivende småbåt7ExperienceJakt & FiskeSlik fisker du steinbit8ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadSteinbit takkel (oppskrift steg for steg)All sources on this page

3. 3. Rig up: boom rig with a trace

   1. 1Main line. Braided line from the reel.9Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions9ExperienceNormark Norway (elbe.no)Sjøfiske fra båtAll sources on this page
   2. 2Boom. A stiff arm that keeps the bait away from the main line, so the rig does not tangle on the way down.9Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions9ExperienceNormark Norway (elbe.no)Sjøfiske fra båtAll sources on this page
   3. 3Sinker. Attached to the boom, keeps the rig near the bottom.9Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions9ExperienceNormark Norway (elbe.no)Sjøfiske fra båtAll sources on this page
   4. 4Trace. A leader of 30 cm to 1 metre from the boom out to the hook and bait.9Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions9ExperienceNormark Norway (elbe.no)Sjøfiske fra båtAll sources on this page

   How to assemble it

   • →Attach the boom to the main line and the sinker to the boom.9Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions9ExperienceNormark Norway (elbe.no)Sjøfiske fra båtAll sources on this page
   • →Attach the trace to the boom. A leader of 30 cm to 1 metre makes the bait move more naturally.9Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions9ExperienceNormark Norway (elbe.no)Sjøfiske fra båtAll sources on this page
   • →Bait with oily fish, for example mackerel fillet, and fish along the bottom while the boat drifts.9Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions9ExperienceNormark Norway (elbe.no)Sjøfiske fra båtAll sources on this page

4. 4. How to do it

   • →Fish with bait down near the bottom, on a slow drift over the fishing spot.4,5,6,7Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 4 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadTid for steinbit5ExperienceHooked.noHvordan fiske gråsteinbit – art nummer 7 / 526ExperienceFiskeavisenHvordan fiske steinbiten fra drivende småbåt7ExperienceJakt & FiskeSlik fisker du steinbitAll sources on this page
   • →Bump the weight or rig against the bottom at regular intervals. It creates sound and disturbance and attracts the wolffish.5,7,8Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 3 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions5ExperienceHooked.noHvordan fiske gråsteinbit – art nummer 7 / 527ExperienceJakt & FiskeSlik fisker du steinbit8ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadSteinbit takkel (oppskrift steg for steg)All sources on this page
   • →Tie the bait firmly to the hook with bait elastic or elastic thread, so that it stays on when you fish actively on the bottom.6,7,8Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 3 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions6ExperienceFiskeavisenHvordan fiske steinbiten fra drivende småbåt7ExperienceJakt & FiskeSlik fisker du steinbit8ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadSteinbit takkel (oppskrift steg for steg)All sources on this page

Where

Where to find Atlantic wolffish

Technique and tackle

How to fish for Atlantic wolffish

When

Season and time of day

• →The wolffish season runs from early spring to well into summer.4,6,7Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 3 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadTid for steinbit6ExperienceFiskeavisenHvordan fiske steinbiten fra drivende småbåt7ExperienceJakt & FiskeSlik fisker du steinbitAll sources on this page

Rules

Minimum sizes and closed seasons

About the fish

Identification and life history

Identification

• →Very powerful jaws and teeth.1,18Sources×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1EncyclopediaStore norske leksikongråsteinbit18EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonsteinbitAll sources on this page
• →Elongated body, flattened from the sides, with an unusually long dorsal and anal fin.1,18Sources×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1EncyclopediaStore norske leksikongråsteinbit18EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonsteinbitAll sources on this page
• →Usually grey-blue with black cross bands.1Source×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1EncyclopediaStore norske leksikongråsteinbitAll sources on this page

Size

• →Can reach up to 125 cm and 20 kg, and live for 20–25 years. Store norske leksikon gives up to 150 cm and over 20 kg.1,2Sources×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1EncyclopediaStore norske leksikongråsteinbit2ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetSteinbitAll sources on this page

Diet

• →Sea urchins, bivalves, snails and crabs. The jaw is so powerful that it easily crushes bivalves and sea urchins.1,2Sources×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1EncyclopediaStore norske leksikongråsteinbit2ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetSteinbitAll sources on this page

Experiences

Tips from people who have fished for Atlantic wolffish

Sources

What this page is based on

The numbers in the text refer to the sources below. Fishing tips must be confirmed by at least three independent sources. Read about our source requirements.