Smooth Hound

Date updated: September 2013 Season: all year Socio-economic Importance: Targeted by recreational sea anglers on both private and charter vessels, both types (Smooth and Starry) visit the fishery and are seen as a good sport fish which attract annual boat competitions in the Thames estuary by some RSA clubs. Ecological Importance: Smooth Hounds primarily feed on crustaceans and may be important predators upon Brown Crab in some areas. The effect of environmental changes on the species is unknown but as a southerly distributed species, they have increased in northern Europe in relation to sea temperature increases.