Norwegian record Blackmouth catshark: 1.95 kg

About Blackmouth catshark

The blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) is a small, slender shark. It is reddish to greyish brown with a row of dark, pale-edged blotches and saddles along the back and tail. Inside, the mouth is black. A distinctive crest of enlarged skin denticles runs along the upper edge of the tail fin. The species lives in deep water, usually from about 150 m down to 1,000 m or more, over muddy ground. In Norway it is common along the south and west coast and also occurs up to northern Norway. It feeds on shrimps, squid and small fish such as argentines and Norway pout. Females lay leathery egg cases in batches through the year. Most specimens are under 80 cm and weigh less than 2 kg. Anglers usually catch it by accident on fish bait fished near the bottom in deep fjords, often in the evening or at night. Norwegian Red List 2021: Least Concern (LC).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia

• Habitat: Saltvann
• Best month: Januar
• Red list status: LC (2021)

See the species guide

Biggest Blackmouth catshark in FishComp

1.05 kg (54 % of the record) by Frode Lothe. 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.