Norwegian record Reticulated dragonet: 21 g

About Reticulated dragonet

The reticulated dragonet (Callionymus reticulatus) is the smallest dragonet in Norwegian waters, reaching only about 10–11 cm, with females slightly smaller than males. It has a flattened, elongated body, a triangular head with eyes set on top, and two dorsal fins, the first tall and triangular. It is sandy coloured with blue spots and four dark, sharply outlined saddle marks across the back. The surest way to separate it from the common and spotted dragonets is the spine on the gill cover, which has three points instead of four. It ranges from Morocco and the western Mediterranean to western Norway, where it is known locally from the south and west coasts north to the Trondheimsfjord. It lives over sand from the shoreline down to a few tens of metres and eats worms and small crustaceans. Spawning runs from spring into early summer. Species-hunting anglers catch it on tiny hooks over sand. Norwegian Red List 2021: Least Concern (LC).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia

• Habitat: Saltvann
• Best month: April

See the species guide

Biggest Reticulated dragonet in FishComp

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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.