Species

Atlantic wolffish

A bottom fish with powerful teeth and dark cross bands that cracks mussels, sea urchins and crabs; also called sea wolf or Atlantic catfish.

Anarhichas lupus

Photo: J. K. H. Friedgé, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0, adjusted to 3:2

Spawning: October to January, the male guards the eggs (Wikipedia, FishBase)
German Red List: extremely rare
Typical method: Bottom fishing with natural bait from a boat over rocky ground
Top bait: Mussel meat

Plan a day fishing for Atlantic wolffish

How to recognise it

Powerful teeth that are replaced every winter
10 to 15 dark cross bands running from the dorsal fin over the body
Usually grey-green, reddish-brown and black fish also occur

Easily confused with: In German shops it is sold as Steinbeißer, but it is not related to the freshwater spined loach of that name (German Wikipedia). The spotted wolffish is also sold under the same trade name.

How to catch it

Methods: Bottom fishing with natural bait from a boat over rocky ground, Slow jigging on the bottom

Baits: Mussel meat, Crab, Fish strip, Soft lure on the bottom

Over rocky ground along the Norwegian coast, according to FishBase mostly at 18 to 110 m. Keep clear of the powerful teeth when unhooking.

Habitat and food

North Sea, British Isles, Bay of Biscay, Norwegian coast, Barents Sea, Iceland and southern Greenland, in the west Atlantic from Labrador to Cape Cod (Wikipedia, FishBase). Solitary on the seabed, mostly over rocky ground, at 20 to 500 m (German Wikipedia); FishBase gives 1 to 600 m, usually 18 to 110 m.

Mainly hard-shelled invertebrates such as mussels, sea urchins and crabs (German Wikipedia); FishBase adds fish, lobsters and other echinoderms.

Size and age

Up to 1.2 m and 25 kg (German Wikipedia). FishBase: max. 150 cm, heaviest published weight 23.6 kg, mature from about 55 cm. The sources differ.

Fishing tips and destinations

Protection and rules

Conservation status: German Red List (marine fish 2025): extremely rare, previously threatened to an unknown extent. IUCN: not evaluated according to FishBase. According to German Wikipedia overfished and vulnerable because of late maturity; in the northwest Atlantic stocks collapsed and the species is protected.

We found no minimum size or closed season for this species in any state fisheries regulation. Local water rules may still apply.

Check the rules

In Germany, closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each state and can be stricter for single waters. All German rules by state, with the legal source. Outside Germany, the local rules apply: licence and agency by country.

In the kitchen

A valued food fish, mostly sold as fillets or steaks (German Wikipedia); FishBase: fresh or frozen, steamed, fried, grilled or baked.

Sources (4)

Last checked 2026-10-20. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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