THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

FIVE BEARDED ROCKLING Ciliata mustela
Bucket List status – result
The only rod caught rockling with five barbels or 'beards', having four on the upper lip or snout, plus
the usual chin barbel. Also the commonest in angling terms, as well as being the most widespread. As
with its close family members, a small fish with an elongate body.
Again, the first dorsal fin comprises a long first ray followed by a series of very much shorter rays, then
a long continuous second dorsal fin with the anal fin below not quite so extensive.
Not that knowing the fin arrangements is of any real necessity as the five barbels should have long since
confirmed its identity. Expect to see no patterning. Just a plain copper to greenish brown colouration
giving way to off white below.
Said to be an extremely common little fish in the rocky coastal shallows throughout all home waters,
which is probably true, but not fully reflected in angling terms due to its generally small size potential
compared to the sizes of hooks and baits we tend to use.
Over the years I've caught literally dozens of the things, but because by and large these have been from
the shore, either along the Lancashire coast or in the River Mersey, my observations might have a bit
of an unfair bias to them.
I have had an odd one from the boat, which could be limited due to the generally larger hooks and baits
I tend to use when I'm afloat. Most of my fish have been beach caught, specifically when using using
small scratching rigs baited with lugworm in areas of sand or stones, and always over the winter months.
That may not be true of other parts of the country though. So again, something which should eventually
come along in the normal course of events, particularly if hook and baits sizes are suitably small enough.
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