Help with Rockling I.D

Was hoping somebody might be able to help with the species I.D of this rockling.

Sorry the close-up pic's are not too good, I've only had this camera about 3 years, so havent quite got the hang of it yet

Pic's in this report.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18089&p=136337#p136337

Thanks in advance lads.

Shore rockling

3 bearded..that would be one massive shore rockling if it was...

Its a shore....

Mmmmmmmmmmm

More confused now, than I was when I made the posting

Thanks for the input though guys

def a shore rockling and a nice sized one at that , both 3 bearded and shores have 3 barbules but a shore rockling's body is dark coloured with light marbeling or spots unlike a 3 bearded rockling which has a lighter coloured body with dark spots(some of the bigger spots join and look make a marbling effect)

i guess i was jaded last night and couldnt see the 4th and 5th barbels to make it a whopping 5 beard for myself

i know what 3 beard is and looks like - so it was really only between a shore and a 5 beard in my mind - i wanted it to be a big 5 beard i guess



either way a quick look at ronald and steves species guide always answers these ones

a shore for sure - no matter how much squinting i did i could see the 2 smaller barbels!!!

Happy days then Brian.....was it close to a specimen do you think ?

they isfc only list the 3 bearded rockling at 0.794kg (1.75lbs)

so it could have been near that

3 bearded..that would be one massive shore rockling if it was...

Well now if the 3 beard is at that, I'd be thinking you'd done very well with what you got (if it is a shore), surely very close