Greater Spotted Catshark, Large-Spotted Dogfish
Bull Huss are striking, robust sharks with grey to sandy brown colouring, patterned with large dark spots across their bodies and fins. They have a broad, flattened head, large cat-like eyes, and strong skin covered with small, rough denticles. Adults often grow over a metre in length, making them larger and chunkier than their close relative, the Lesser Spotted Dogfish.
Bull Huss are bottom-dwelling sharks found across the northeast Atlantic, from southern Norway to the western Mediterranean. In the UK, they are frequently seen off the southwest coast, inhabiting rocky seabeds, reefs, and kelp forests. They are relatively sedentary and tend to stay local to specific areas.
Sustainability Rating
Status: Bull Huss are vulnerable to overfishing due to slow growth rates and low reproductive capacity.
Best Choice: Fish caught by small-scale, targeted gill nets or hook and line, particularly where local management plans are in place.
Avoid: Fish taken as bycatch in unregulated trawl fisheries.
Culinary Uses
Bull Huss offers firm, meaty flesh that holds together well when cooked. It is traditionally sold under the name rock salmon.
However, it is not widely targeted by Cornish fishermen today due to the difficulty of removing its extremely tough, abrasive skin — a laborious and time-consuming process.
When prepared properly, the flesh is ideal for grilling, baking, or deep-frying, often paired with bold seasonings or marinades.
Best Fishing Practices
Static gill netting and hook and line fishing are the most sustainable approaches, offering targeted harvest with minimal seabed impact.
Fisheries that implement landing size limits and catch monitoring play an important role in maintaining healthy stocks.
Seasonality
Available year-round, with catches more common during the spring and summer months.
Protecting Our Coastal Shark Species
Bull Huss, or the Greater Spotted Catshark, is an iconic part of Britain’s coastal ecosystems.
By supporting low-impact fisheries and avoiding unsustainably caught sharks, we can help ensure that these fascinating creatures remain part of our marine heritage for years to come.
On our menu: Yes ✓
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