Norwegian record European plaice: 5.26 kg

About European plaice

The European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) is one of the best-known flatfish in Norway. The upper side is smooth and brown to greenish brown with bright orange-red spots, while the underside is pearly white. A row of four to seven bony knobs runs behind the eyes. Unlike the rough-skinned dab, it feels smooth and slimy. Plaice occur from the Barents Sea to Iberia and along the whole Norwegian coast, with the main stock in the North Sea. They live on sand and mud, in shallow water in summer and down to around 200 m in winter, feeding mainly on worms and small bivalves. Spawning takes place in deeper water between February and May. Most fish are 30 to 50 cm, though exceptional specimens approach 1 m and 7 kg. Anglers catch them with worm or shrimp on a light bottom rig over sand, from boat or beach in summer. Norwegian Red List 2021: Least Concern (LC).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia

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

See the species guide

Biggest European plaice in FishComp

1.94 kg (37 % 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.