Sharks & Rays

Spurdog (spiny dogfish)

Mielga (galludo)

Squalus acanthias

Saltwater

How to catch it ↓Log my catch

At a glance

Typical size

5–12 lb.

Depth

30–600 ft.

Best time

Day and night.

Found in

20 areas

Know it

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A slender gray shark with white spots along the sides, no anal fin, and a sharp spine in front of each of its two dorsal fins.
Typical size: 5–12 lb.
Maximum size: About 4 ft and over 20 lb.
Diet: Herring, mackerel, sand eels, squid and crabs.
Behavior: Moves in big packs that can swarm a boat's baits. One of the slowest-reproducing sharks: pregnancy lasts nearly two years.

Find it

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from United Kingdom & Ireland, France, Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries), Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Northern & Central Europe, Arctic & North Atlantic Islands, Italy & Malta, Greece & the Adriatic, Black Sea & Caspian, Turkey, Cyprus & the Eastern Mediterranean, Morocco & West Africa, New Hampshire & Maine, Rhode Island & Massachusetts, New York, Long Island & Connecticut, Delaware & New Jersey, Virginia & Chesapeake Bay, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & PEI, Newfoundland & Gaspé and Quebec. Cool coastal and shelf waters on both sides of the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (the Pacific dogfish is now a separate species).
Habitat: Cool coastal and shelf waters on both sides of the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (the Pacific dogfish is now a separate species).
Depth: 30–600 ft.
Fishing depth: On or near the bottom.
Best season: Autumn and winter in UK waters; spring and fall in the U.S. Northeast.
Best time: Day and night.
Best tides: A moving tide.
Best weather / conditions: Any fishable day.

Bait & gear

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Mackerel strip, herring, squid.
Best artificial lures: Jigs and baited feathers.
Tackle setup: 12–20 lb class boat rod.
Hook size: 3/0–5/0 hooks.
Line: 20–30 lb braid.
Leader: 60–80 lb mono (their teeth cut light line).

BigJoe's setup for Spurdog (spiny dogfish)

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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See BigJoe's full gear guide →

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Catch it

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Step-by-step: how to catch it

Go where it lives: Cool coastal and shelf waters on both sides of the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (the Pacific dogfish is now a separate species).
Rig up: 12–20 lb class boat rod. 60–80 lb mono (their teeth cut light line).
Pick your bait: Mackerel strip, herring, squid. Lures: Jigs and baited feathers.
Fish it: Fish a fish bait on a running ledger on the bottom; when a pack moves in, bites come fast.
Time it: Day and night. A moving tide.

Fishing techniques: Fish a fish bait on a running ledger on the bottom; when a pack moves in, bites come fast.
BigJoe's tip: Grip it firmly behind the head and keep the tail straight; spurdog curl round to drive their spines into your hand.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Clean & cook

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Good white meat (the 'rock salmon' of British fish and chips, and 'Schillerlocken' smoked belly in Germany); bleed and skin it right away.

Stay safe & legal

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: The two dorsal spines carry a mild venom and cause painful wounds. Handle with care.
Regulations: Listed as Vulnerable globally by the IUCN. The EU and UK reopened limited commercial fishing in 2023 after years of closure, but Norway protects spurdog all year, and many anglers release every one. U.S. states allow limited harvest. Check local rules. Every country sets its own rules: sea fishing licenses or registration in some countries, a national or regional license plus a local permit for fresh water, and minimum sizes everywhere. Check before you fish.
Conservation: Very slow to reproduce; release spurdog, especially big females.

Sources & photo credits