About the Blenny
The Blenny (Shanny) is a small, tough, wriggly rockpool fish with a big personality. It has a long eel-like body, blunt head, and large lips, often with mottled brown, green or orange patterns that help it blend into rocks and seaweed. Shannies live right in the intertidal zone — often left in tiny pools when the tide goes out — and can even survive out of water for short periods by staying damp in cracks and weed.
They eat almost anything small they find on the seabed and are one of the best beginner species for junior sea anglers. Blennies are not powerful, but they bite confidently, fight with enthusiasm, and help learners develop confidence in bait presentation, unhooking, and handling.
Junior tip
Look for Blennies in rockpools or right beside pier walls. Use tiny pieces of ragworm or little bits of mackerel on small hooks and gently lower your rig straight down. They nibble fast — lift smoothly to bring them in!
Logged a Blenny recently?
Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught,
which baits work and how your tackle was set up.
Want to discover more species? Browse the
full species guide.
