Where can I catch Lumpsucker in the UK?

Northern and western coasts in particular, including Scotland and North Sea coasts.

What tackle do I need to catch Lumpsucker?

Most juniors catch Lumpsucker on straightforward float or feeder setups with balanced line and hook sizes and a small landing net.

What bait works well for Lumpsucker?

Natural baits such as maggots, worms or bread often work well for Lumpsucker.

Lumpsucker species guide • Sea fish • Very easy (3/10)

Lumpsucker junior fishing guide

Cyclopterus lumpus

A clear, plain-English guide to lumpsucker for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Lumpsucker catch

Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons

Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Very easy (3/10)

Perfect for first-ever fishing trips with young juniors.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

1–5 lb shore sized fish; much larger offshore.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

Beginner baits

Maggots, worms, bread

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Rocky coasts, harbours and deeper inshore marks; often associated with breeding sites on rough ground.

Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.

Catch your first lumpsucker with confidence

Catch your first Lumpsucker in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

Step 1

Explain they are unusual visitors

Lumpsuckers occasionally turn up around rocky shores and harbours. They are more of a curiosity than a target species.
Step 2

Handle gently and keep in water

If hooked, keep fish in a bucket or the landing net in the water. Avoid squeezing their soft bodies or pulling them off surfaces.
Step 3

Use for ecology conversations

Use Lumpsuckers to talk about parental care, eggs and how some species guard nests on rocks.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

We don’t have tackle recommendations for this species yet. Ask your club coach for a simple, junior-friendly rig and check back soon.

About the Lumpsucker

Lumpsuckers are round, bumpy fish with a sucker on the underside that lets them cling to rocks. They look almost like cartoon fish and are brilliant for junior identification sessions.

Junior tip

If you ever encounter a lumpsucker, keep it in the water as much as possible and show juniors the suction disc and rough skin. Return it carefully near cover and explain that the male often guards eggs on the seabed.

Logged a Lumpsucker recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

← Back to all species

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For parents & carers

Use this page to quickly judge if Lumpsucker are a good match for your child’s confidence and ability.

●Clear guidance on safe handling, landing nets and unhooking.
●Beginner tackle that’s lightweight and manageable for juniors.
●Written in plain language so non-angling parents can still support on the bank.

At a glance

Family: Cyclopteridae
Feeding zone: Midwater / Near bottom
Diet: Small crustaceans, jellyfish and other midwater prey.
Typical size: 1–5 lb shore sized fish; much larger offshore.
Best season: Late winter and spring when adults move inshore to spawn.
Conservation: Commercial bycatch species; important for ecology and used in aquaculture.
UK distribution: Northern and western coasts in particular, including Scotland and North Sea coasts.