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Blackbelly Rosefish, Helicolenus dactylopterus
| Irish Record Fish: | no record | no record |
| Caught: | no record | |
| Boat Specimen: | 1.98 lbs | 0.90 kgs |
| Shore Specimen: | 1.98 lbs | 0.90 kgs |
| Photo Credit: | Thorke Østergaard | |
Introduction: The Blackbelly Rosefish known locally and around Europe as a 'Bluemouth' is one of the few (thankfully!) deep water and venomous scorpionfish found in Irish waters. It can reach > 5 lbs (2.2 kgs) in weight and is a new specimen fish on the ISFC listing. It is only caught off the western and southern coasts during and after the summer on deep water marks.
Boat tactics: Bluemouth are caught by sea anglers purely by accident on deep water marks late in the summer and into the autumn. They seem to have a particular liking for mackerel strip, squid and worms fished on a long trace on the drift over a mark, offered on hooks above the 2/0 mark. Light boat tackle offers great sport with these creatures, but you will always encounter a bluemouth by accident rather than design. These are venomous fish so careful handling is required - the poison is in the dorsal fin spines, but other spines and teeth can inflict wounds. Let gloved and experienced hands unhook them!
Shore tactics: We have yet to see a bluemouth reported caught from the shore and given their deep water habitat, it is extremely unlikely we ever will...