Norwegian record Greater forkbeard: 4.54 kg

About Greater forkbeard

The greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides) is a brownish to grey-brown member of the cod order with a single chin barbel and two dorsal fins. Its most distinctive feature is the pelvic fins, which are reduced to a long, forked filament reaching well back along the belly; the fish uses it to feel for food on the seabed. No other member of its family has been recorded in Norwegian waters. The range runs from the Mediterranean north past Ireland and Britain to the Faroes, Iceland and Norway. It lives on soft bottoms from about 100 m to more than 1,000 m, most commonly at 100–450 m. It feeds mainly on shrimps and other crustaceans, as well as fish. The usual size is around 60 cm, with a maximum of roughly 110 cm. It is occasionally taken as bycatch on longlines and by anglers fishing deep water. Norwegian Red List 2021: Least Concern (LC).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia, alr-journal.org

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

See the species guide

Biggest Greater forkbeard 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.