The Dab is the smallest of the flatfish species and is found on sand and gritty bottoms. It prefers a strong tide and rarely grows much above 2lbs (0.9kg)in weight. Unlike the Plaice and Flounder, Dab do not have any bony knobs between the eyes or rough scales. It is usually a tone of sandy brown with small pale yellow spots. Shingle caught Dabs are more grey in colour. The belly is white. Orcadian Dabs have been caught up to 1½ lbs (0.68kg).Identification:

White underneath and brown on the upper surface, with rough scales. The lateral line is strongly curved above the pectoral fin.

Breeding occurs in depths of 20-40 m - during early spring (Channel) to early summer (nothern North Sea). Females produce in the region of 100,000 eggs. Initially pelagic, the young move to the bottom before fully metamorphosed, which occurs at about 16 mm. Dabs reach sexual maturity at 2-3 years, when around 15 cm long.

The dab prefers sandy ground, often close inshore.

Widespread throughout UK waters.

Stale black lug left to dry out a little and go sticky is the best dab bait of all. Next go for blow lug tipped of with a tiny cube of mackerel or sprat. Both mackerel strip and herring strip are good for the larger fish, but a fillet of sprat lashed to the hook with fine elastic thread is excellent. Mussels are good when the dabs are close to rough ground. Peeler crab is taken by the bigger fish too, especially in the spring. Squid strip, razorfish strip, white rag an frozen sandeel are also in the running.