Wrasse species often get misidentified and have heard/seen small Ballans being labelled as Corkwings and vice versa, Rock cooks being identified as Corkwings and Female Cuckoos being called Goldsinneys.

I get just as much pleasure from targeting the smaller species on light gear and as i do from a powerful ballan and it can be quiet rewarding when you catch one of the rarer species. I managed to catch all 5 of the more common species in one wrasse trip - see photo to the right - i kept them alive in a rock pool but couldn't find the Goldsinney again for the photo!īallan wrasse are usually the target of a 'wrasse fishing trip' and give an excellent account for themselves once hooked. I myself have caught the 5 more common species and the rarer Baillons Wrasse. Despite being openly fished and kept as pets, the lookdown is currently in no danger of becoming extinct, and is not the subject of any specific conservation efforts.7 species of wrasse can potentially be caught in the UK - Ballan, Cuckoo, Corkwing the rarer Rock Cook and Goldsinney and the much rarer Baillons and Scale Rayed Wrasse. This fish survives primarily off of small worms, small fish, and small crustaceans, and is known to lay eggs into the water column. This is due to the placement of its eyes and the peculiar shape of its front side. The lookdown gets its common name from the fact that it appears to be “looking down” as it swims. However, it’s most commonly seen in the United States in fish tanks, where its interesting appearance has made it a popular staple in many home aquariums. The lookdown prefers marine (oceanic) and brackish (briny) waters and lives at depths of one to fifty-three meters (over one hundred and fifty feet) where it usually shoals (lives in a group or school). Native to the western Atlantic Ocean, it can be found in places like Canada, Maine, Uruguay, Bermuda, and all the areas with coasts on the Gulf of Mexico. It’s often called “the fish with the long face” by children and those who don’t know its real name, and is often confused with the Atlantic Moonfish – a cousin species that looks quite similar. Known to experts by the latin scientific name that sounds like it could be a person’s name “Selene Vomer”, the lookdown is a game fish that is known for its silvery flat body, flattened head, low slung large mouth, and deeply forked tail.

Flat faced fish