THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

Colouration varies between reddish
brown occasionally through to black, and
mainly without markings on the body,
though it can show some blotching or
mottling. The top third of the dorsal fin
also carries a distinctive lighter banding
which can even be orange in breeding
males.
Otherwise, colouration tends to become
more pronounced generally during the
early to mid summer breeding season.
More a fish of the English Channel,
Western Britain, Ireland, and Scotland.
My personal encounters have been around Anglesey and in Luce Bay. Grows to around four inches.
SAND GOBY Pomatoschistus minutus
Bucket List status – result
Another typically round bodied gobylike
fish with its big lips, large eyes on
the top of the head, rounded pectoral
fins and tail, and in this particular case,
slightly more slender elongate body
profile than the common goby with
which it also shares a long reach from
the rear of the second dorsal fin to the
start of the tail, though in this case the
two dorsal fins almost touch.
In terms of colouration and markings,
typically sandy brown to grey with five
reddish flecks along each side, plus a conspicuous blue-black spot towards the back of the first dorsal
fin. Adult males can also have four rather indistinct vertical bars on each flank.
A common fish over sand and mud in shallower water down to maybe sixty feet throughout all home
waters where small crustaceans form the basis of its diet. Grows to around four inches.
GIANT GOBY Gobius cobitis
Bucket List status – no result yet
As might be expected from the name, this is the largest goby to be found in home waters with lengths
potentially approaching twelve inches. A deep round bodied bodied, stocky looking, typically gobylike
fish, with big lips, moderately large well spaced eyes on top of the head, plus rounded pectoral fins
and tail.
Key identity points to look out for include scales on the nape and none on the cheek, and pectoral rays
which are well developed.
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