| Species | Minimum Length cm/inches |
Notes |
| Bass | 42/16½ | In 2019 bass are catch-and-release only in January to March and November and December. One bass per angler per day can be retained from April to October. |
| Black Bream | 23/9½ | |
| Brill | 35/14 | |
| Bull Huss | 58/23 | |
| Coalfish | 35/14 | |
| Cod | 35/14 | |
| Conger Eel | 91/36 | Usually released by anglers due to breeding patterns. See conger eel article for details. |
| Dab | 20/8 | |
| Dogfish | 38/15 | |
| Flounder | 27/10 | |
| Garfish | 38/15 | |
| Gurnard (Tub) | 28/11 | |
| Haddock | 30/12 | |
| Hake | 30/12 | |
| Herring | 20/8 | |
| Ling | 63/25 | |
| Mackerel | 30/12 | |
| Megrim | 25/10 | |
| Mullet | 33/13 | Applies to thin lipped grey, thick lipped grey and golden grey. |
| Mullet (Red) | 20/8 | |
| Plaice | 28/11 | |
| Pollock | 35/14 | |
| Poor Cod | 18/7½ | |
| Pouting | 18/7½ | |
| Ray | 41/16 | Almost all ray species are classed as Vulnerable or Near Threatened by the IUCN. Recommended that anglers catch and release ray species. |
| Rockling | 18/7½ | |
| Scad | 25/10 | |
| Silver Eel | 38/15 | Classed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Protected by laws which mean this species needs to be released if it is caught by anglers. |
| Skate | 41/16 | Classed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Protected by laws and legislation around the UK meaning any skate caught by anglers are released. |
| Sole | 25/10 | |
| Smoothound | 51/20 | |
| Spurdog | 58/23 | Numbers massively reduced in UK waters. Classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Recommended that all spurdog are released. |
| Turbot | 41/16 | |
| Whiting | 27/11 | |
| Wrasse | 23/9 | |
| Unclassified | 20/8 | All other fish and mini-species that are not listed |
| Other Species |
Halibut – May be protected by local bye-laws and need to be released. Monkfish – May be protected by local bye-laws and need to be released. All large shark species – May be protected by local bye-laws and need to be released. Tope – Must be released alive due to legislation protecting this species. |
* Please note: Minimum lengths may not be applicable if there is legislation/laws passed to prohibit anglers from retaining species (i.e. in the case of silver eel).
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