Sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus. The black/blue spot on the first dorsal fin is at the upper edge of the fin. The common goby has a similar spot, but it is positioned lower on the fin membrane, close to the body.

Young grey mullets can be tricky to identify. Here’s a young golden grey (Liza aurata):

… and a young thin-lipped grey (Liza ramada) about the same size for comparison (top). The golden grey is slightly thinner-bodied, and has the prominent golden spot on the operculum. The comparative length of the pectoral fins, which is quite distinctive in adults, is not particularly reliable in young fish or damaged specimens.

To confuse matters further, the thick-lipped grey can also have a golden spot on its operculum.

A nicely-coloured Baillon’s wrasse (Symphodus bailloni) from Southampton Water last week (Jan. 16th). We’ve not seen an adult in breeding colours in this location before; note the pink fins and mouth.

Around the head, note the orange blobs on a blue background, the dark-blue arc at the base of the pectoral fin, and Prussian blue colour behind the pectoral:

About 120,000 mixed sprats & herrings, Southampton Water. Nice.

This site is the companion to our book, Identification Guide to the Inshore Fish of the British Isles, by Dr Peter Henderson.

ISBN 978-1-904690-63-4, published in December 2014
Price £25 + P&P – buy online.

We believe it’s the definitive guide to the British marine fish. Here, we aim to introduce you to the book, as well as bringing you updates and news from the world of fish.

We are Pisces Conservation, an environmental consultancy, publisher and software house based on the south coast of the UK.