Species of Fish & Shellfish Glossary
Find out all you need to know about the different species of fish and shellfish available to you from Cornwall. Discover information, recipes and similar alternative species of fish and shellfish, as well as details on nutritional content and seasonality information.
Anchovies
In Season: All Year
Anchovies are an excellent pantry staple since they have a strong but refined fish flavour.
Sea Bream
In Season: July – December
There are a number of different species of Bream, Sea Bream is what is fished in Cornwall.
Brill
In Season: May – September
Stunning Cornish flatfish family of species, brill is similar to Turbot in taste & texture.
Clams
In Season: Jan – Apr / Sep – Dec
Delicate sweet clams, gathered by professional divers all along the coast.
Cockles
In Season: July – December
Amazing cockles, gathered by divers all along the coast near rocks.
Cold Water Prawns
In Season: All Year
As their name suggests, these prawns originate from cold and icy waters and are wild-caught.
Coley
In Season: Feb-Apr, Aug-Dec
Coley, also known as Saithe or Coalfish, is a great substitute for Cod or Haddock.
Crab
In Season: In season: Apr-Oct
Brown Crab, Velvet Crab, King Crab and Spider Crabs are all available on the Cornish coast.
Cuttlefish
In Season: Jan-Feb, Apr-Aug-Dec
A relation of squid and octopus, cuttlefish possess a flavour that is light & sweet.
Dab
In Season: Jan-May
The dab is a small species of flatfish – rarely caught bigger than 700g in size.
Dover Sole
In Season: Apr-Jun, Sep-Nov
Dover Sole has a crisp white flesh, firm to touch, with an almost sweet taste.
Flounder
In Season: Jun-Sep
Flounder is an abundant flatfish species – possessing a similar texture to plaice.
Gurnard
In season: Mar-May, Aug-Sep
Gurnard are found in-shore on the Cornish coast, the best alternative is Cod.
Haddock
In season: Feb-Apr, Aug-Oct
A member of the Cod family, Haddock is very popular species of white round fish.
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Hake
In season: May-Aug
Possessing white flesh that when cooked is mild in flavour and flaky in texture.
Halibut
In season: Jan-May, Sep-Dec
Halibut is a highly esteemed and very tasty species of flatfish.
Langoustines
In season: Jan-Dec
Langoustines look like large prawns, but are actually more closely related to a lobster.
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Lemon Sole
In season: Jan-Mar, May-Aug, Oct-Dec
More rounded than a Dover, with a lighter, yellowy-brown dark side.
Lobster
In season: Jan-Dec
Lobsters are an impressive centrepiece for any meal occasion and a real treat.
Mackerel
In season: Apr-Dec
Mackerel – a superb fish, great value for money, readily available and yet amazingly underrated.
Mussels
In season: Jan-Mar, Sep-Dec
Mussels are a great value shellfish that make a fine starter, lunch or main course.
Octopus
In season: Jan-Dec
Octopus can often be difficult to cook, as it can easily become tough and rubbery.
Oysters
In season: Jan-Dec
There are two main oyster varieties available in the UK: Pacific (or rock) oysters & native oysters.
Plaice
In season: May-Aug, Nov-Dec
A mild tasting species of flatfish, plaice takes sauces and other flavours very well.
Sardines
In season: Jan-Mar, Jul-Dec
Rich in omega 3, sardines and pilchards are actually the same species.
Scallops
In season: Apr-Sep
A delicious and highly regarded shellfish, scallops are a popular choice in Cornwall.
Sea Bass
In season: May-Sep
Striking with a spiky dorsal fin and silver colouration, this species is a firm favourite
Squid
In season: Jan-, Jul-Dec
Similar in many ways to octopus, there are loads you can do with squid.
Bonito
In season: Jan-Apr, Sep-Dec
With its firm, rich meat, Bonito is often described as being like a steak.
Turbot
In season: Apr-Jun, Sep-Nov
Turbot is a species of flatfish with an almost circular outline. Line caught in Cornwall.
Warm Water Prawns
In season: Jan-Dec
Species such as tiger prawns are considerably larger than their Coldwater counterparts.
Whiting
In season: Jan-Mar, Sep-Dec
A smallish sized fish from the cod family, whiting has a silvery round body.
