Scyliorhinus stellaris
Other Names
Greater spotted dogfish
Distinguishing features
A small bull huss can look at first glance like a lesser spotted dogfish and is also known as the greater spotted dogfish. However the nasal flaps in the huss are clearly separated and the rear of the anal fin is in line with the front of the first dorsal. The back and sides are a sandy brown with large brown patches and the underside is a creamy white. Occasionally the back and sides may take on a grey hue.
Size
The bull huss can reach lengths of 155 cm and a weight in excess of 10 kg. It’s one of the few larger species where the shore angler can expect to catch fish as big as the boat angler.
British Record Fish List
UK Shore Record: 19lb 14oz 0dms / 9.015kg
UK Boat Record: 22lb 4oz odms / 10.092kg
European Line Class Record for this species
Habitat
The huss is much less common than the LSD and is most prolific at the southern end of the east North Atlantic around the English Channel and the south west of Ireland. Lives on the sea bed at any depth from the shoreline out to 60 metres and inhabits rough or rocky ground.
Food
A wide selection of crustaceans, molluscs and small fish form the bulk of the diet of a bull huss.
Bait
Mackerel head and guts are a favourite bait but strips and flappers will also take fish. Squid and cuttlefish can also be effective.
bull huss nasal flaps on the left, lsd on right
