If you are a new person to this sport, then I am sure you are asking yourself,
"What on earth is coarse fishing ???"
This page gives
you an overview of what coarse fishing is, and how it began. It also describes what
British and Australian fish can be caught by this unique method.
Many years ago, the English gentry classified fish into categories. Salmon and trout were considered more palatable than the other varieties of fish, and were classified as 'Game' fish. All other fish present were classified as 'coarse' fish.
Coarse fishing, as far as I know, originated in the United Kingdom approximately 200 years ago. On the whole, most coarse fish were native to England, though some were introduced. I'm a bit hazy about the exact reason why people started to angle for coarse fish. Hunger, or possibly the influence of immigrants from the rest of Europe, may well have started coarse fishing. Whatever it may have been, I'm sure you will agree with me when I say it isn't all that important to know how coarse fishing evolved, it's the fishing itself that counts !
There are many different species of fish that can be caught by coarse fishing. The following list are the species that can be caught in England. Australia and New Zealand have only got a few of the British coarse fish. You can however target our native fish, though I have not yet caught any myself.
|
Barbel |
Scientific Name : |
Barbus barbus |
Location : |
England |
Venue Type : |
Fast Rivers |
Best Bait : |
Luncheon Meat, Worms, Bread |
Synopsis : |
A great fighting fish. Requires clean water to survive. Primarily an Autumn fish. |
|
Bream Variations: Bronze, Common |
Scientific Name : |
Abramis brama |
Location : |
England, Ireland |
Venue Type : |
Lakes and slow rivers |
Best Bait : |
Bread, Worms |
Synopsis : |
Bream are voracious feeders. They are a shoal fish. They have thrived in Ireland. |
|
Common Carp
Variations: Mirror, Leather, Wild, Coy. |
Scientific Name : |
Cyprinus carpo |
Location : |
The World ! |
Venue Type : |
Rivers, Lakes |
Best Bait : |
Corn, Boilies, and anything else ! |
Synopsis : |
Common carp are one of the most hardy fish. They are able to survive in waters affected by pollution, low oxygen, salination etc. They are great fighting fish. Carp can be taught to take most baits. Mirror and Leather carp are a recessive strain of the common carp. Can be caught all year round. |
|
Chub |
Scientific Name : |
Leuciscus ( squalius ) cephalus |
Location : |
England |
Venue Type : |
Rivers, Lakes |
Best Bait : |
Bread crumb, Bread flake, Grubs |
Synopsis : |
Primarily a river fish. Best time to target is late Winter. |
|
Crucian Carp |
Scientific Name : |
Carassius carassius |
Location : |
Europe, Asia, ( ??? Australia ??? ) |
Venue Type : |
Sheltered ponds and lakes |
Best Bait : |
Corn, Bread Flake, Soaked Raisins |
Synopsis : |
Can survive very cold conditions. Prevalent in Nth Europe. Very shy fish. Lives near reeds and weed for protection. Can breed with goldfish. The hybrids have dominantly goldfish characteristics. |
|
Dace |
Scientific Name : |
Leuciscus ( leuciscus ) leuciscus |
Location : |
England, New Zealand |
Venue Type : |
Fast water shallows and rapids |
Best Bait : |
Bread |
Synopsis : |
Dace are shoal fish. They prefer fast shallow water. |
|
Eel |
Scientific Name : |
??? |
Location : |
The World ! |
Venue Type : |
Large Lakes and Rivers |
Best Bait : |
Dead bait |
Synopsis : |
Prefers deep and clean
water. Primarily feeds on dead fish at night. Eels fight in a cork
screw manner and may cause tangles. They are most active in Summer. |
( Insert picture ! ) |
Goldfish Variations: Brown, Ornamental |
| Scientific Name : | Carassius auratus |
Location : |
The World ! |
Venue Type : |
Lakes and Rivers |
Best Bait : |
Corn, Bread flake |
Synopsis : |
Similar in characteristics to common carp. Can grow large if feed a lot. Not really targeted by coarse anglers. |
 |
Perch, Red fin |
Scientific Name : |
Perca fluviatilis |
Location : |
The World ! |
Venue Type : |
Lakes and slow rivers with cover |
Best Bait : |
Worms, Lures, Bait fish |
Synopsis : |
Perch are a small predatory fish. They have dark vertical stripes that help them blend in with water weed. |
 |
Pike |
Scientific Name : |
Esox lucius |
Location : |
England, Canada |
Venue Type : |
All venues |
Best Bait : |
Lures, Live bait, Dead bait |
Synopsis : |
Large predator that can grow up to 50 lb. Most double figure specimen pike are caught on live bait. |
 |
Roach |
Scientific Name : |
Rutilus rutilus |
Location : |
England, Australia (sth est), New Zealand |
Venue Type : |
All venues |
Best Bait : |
Maggots, Worms, Cereals, Seeds |
Synopsis : |
Roach are a shoal fish. Cormorants have decimated many of the specimen roach. A specimen roach is considered to be between 2 - 4 lb. Summer is the best time to target them. |
 |
Rudd |
Scientific Name : |
Scardinius erythrophthalmus |
Location : |
England, Ireland |
Venue Type : |
Lakes and slow rivers |
Best Bait : |
Worms, Cereals, Seeds |
Synopsis : |
Rudd are very similar in characteristics to roach, though smaller in size. Best targeted during Summer. |
|
|
Tench |
Scientific Name : |
Tinca tinca |
Location : |
England, Sth Est Australia, New Zealand |
Venue Type : |
Lakes and slow rivers |
Best Bait : |
Bread, Worms |
Synopsis : |
Related to carp. A powerful fighter. Has very small scales which are covered in mucus. Lays dormant in the mud during Winter. Best targeted in Summer. |
 |
Zander |
Scientific Name : |
Stizostedion lucioperca |
Location : |
England, East Europe |
Venue Type : |
Lakes, Rivers |
Best Bait : |
Live bait, Dead bait, Lures |
Synopsis : |
Very similar to pike and perch, though not related. |
1.
Designed and made by Sean Roberts
sean_m_roberts@hotmail.com
~ Please do not SPAM me ~
1. ) All Images were originally from the
"Improve Your Coarse Fishing" magazine. Editor: Gareth Purnell
