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Dab

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:02 am
by TimOH
So, what is the Dab (aka in Cork Harbour I've caught a flatfish with orange spots)? The Dad is a flatfish, the second smallest in Ireland (makes me wish I'd weighed some big ones).

Sea Angling Ireland - Boat & Shore Tactics, Irish Record and Specimen sizes http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/flat ... %20dab.htm
More information on the status, distribution, rigs and techniques. http://britishseafishing.co.uk/dab/
The scientific bit from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_dab

So what's the difference between a dab and other flatfish? 2 simple things:
1) The curve in the lateral line. Look at the photo, there is a pronounced curve in the lateral line behind the head.
2) Rub your finger from head to tail and the skin feels smooth, from tail to head ans the skin feels rough.
Note the lateral line
Note the lateral line
Kevin Murphy.JPG
Kevin Murphy.JPG (141.97 KiB) Viewed 7516 times
Qualify for 1 & 2 and no matter how many orange spots, it's a Dab.