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Rock Cook, Centrolabrus exoletus

Introduction: The Rock Cook is one of a wide number of blennys, gobies and other small fish often caught from shore.  They are of little interest to anglers but they provide a nice diversion (and fun for kids) on light tackle whilst legering well out on a stronger rod for larger fish. The variety and colours on these small inshore fish is amazing, and some like the Poor Cod make an excellent fresh deadbait. 

Boat tactics: Given it is a shoreline fish, it is unlikely that you will encounter one from a boat as you need to be using hooks under 1/0 and equally small worm or related baits in order to catch these small fish, although it is possible you might catch one on a flatfish rig. 

Shore tactics: These fish provide an interesting diversion and marine biology lesson on slow days, and you can also catch Dragonets, Blennies, Shannies and the Connemara Suckerfish!