Fish
Poisson
Norwegian pout
Trisopterus esmarkii
Out of season
—
Fishing zones
Wild
Origin
15 cm
Minimum size
Description
It is a small fish belonging to the Gadidae family (the family of cod and pout). Its body is spindle-shaped and elongated. Unlike other pouts, its mandible (lower jaw) extends slightly beyond the upper jaw. It has a very short and thin chin barbel, which is sometimes almost invisible. It has a characteristic dark spot at the upper base of the pectoral fin. Its back is gray-brown, its sides are silvery, and its belly is white. Its typical size is about 19 cm, but it can exceptionally reach 35 cm.
Habitat
A benthopelagic to pelagic marine species (living in the water column but often near the seafloor). It is generally found at depths of 100 to 200 meters, although it can descend to 300 meters (or even 450 meters in the Norwegian Trench). It prefers soft seabeds, particularly muddy ones.
Distribution
The Norway pout is a boreal species found in the northeastern Atlantic. It is found in the southwestern Barents Sea, around Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. It is very abundant in the North Sea, the Skagerrak, and the Kattegat. It is found along the British coast as far south as the English Channel. It is less common in the Bay of Biscay.