Norwegian record Atlantic wolffish: 18.4 kg

About Atlantic wolffish

The Atlantic wolffish, Anarhichas lupus, is the most widespread of Norway's three wolffish species and occurs along the whole coast, in the Barents Sea and in the North Sea. Its range spans the North Atlantic from America to Europe. It is a coastal, fairly sedentary fish of rocky and stony ground in fairly shallow water. The long, eel-like body is grey to bluish grey with dark vertical bands. Its jaws set it apart: strong conical fangs at the front and broad crushing molars behind, used to break sea urchins, shellfish, crabs and whelks. Most fish are 60 to 90 cm, but it can reach about 1.25 to 1.5 metres and roughly 20 kg. It spawns in winter, and the male guards the egg mass on the seabed for months. Over winter it replaces its teeth and feeds little. Anglers catch it on heavy bait or jigs near the bottom, mainly in summer. Norwegian Red List 2021: Least Concern (LC).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Havforskningsinstituttet, Wikipedia

• Habitat: Saltvann
• Best month: Juli

See the species guide

Biggest Atlantic wolffish in FishComp

1 g (0 % of the record) by Carl-Otto Curran. See the catch

How to register a Norwegian record

1. Norwegian sport-fishing records are registered with Villmarksliv, not with FishComp. Read the rules before you do anything else with the fish.
2. Records are based on weight and approved by a jury. You give the weight and length, where it was caught, the gear you used and any witnesses.
3. Keep your photos and notes from the catch. Logging it in FishComp does not register a record.