Norwegian record Haddock: 9.25 kg

About Haddock

The haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) is a prized member of the cod family. The clearest field mark is the dark blotch on each side above the pectoral fin, below the first dorsal fin. It also has a black lateral line, a purplish grey back, silvery flanks and a white belly. The chin barbel is small. Haddock range across the North Atlantic, from America to Europe, and are common along the entire Norwegian coast and in the Barents Sea. They feed near the bottom, preferring sand, gravel and mud at roughly 40 to 300 m, and eat worms, shellfish, brittle stars and other seabed animals. Big ones also take small fish. Spawning is in spring, for example off Møre and near Tromsøflaket. Most are under 70 cm, but haddock can approach 1 m. Bait such as prawns or mussels on a bottom rig over soft ground works best, though small jigs also catch them. 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 Haddock in FishComp

4.25 kg (46 % 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.