How to Catch Spiny Dogfish at Skårland Fjord (Fishing Planet)

The Spiny Dogfish is a small shark, and it is one of the more convenient catches at Skårland Fjord because it bites in the middle of the day, when the fjord’s low-light species have gone quiet. I take it on the bottom from a marked spot near Ranvika Marina, and the one below was a Trophy at 6.243 kg and 117.9 cm. This guide covers the spot, the coordinate, the rig, the bait, and the timing, plus a couple of things I learned catching it that the in-game notes do not tell you.

About the Spiny Dogfish

The Spiny Dogfish is a small but sharp-toothed shark that roams the cold North Atlantic, usually holding near rocky bottoms and underwater ridges between roughly 50 and 150 metres. It is not massive, measuring a little over a metre and up to around 10 kg, but it is a worthy catch and a genuine shark for your collection. It gets its name from the two sharp spines in front of its dorsal fins, and it feeds on herring, cod, flatfish, shrimp, and bottom invertebrates.

The game flags one thing clearly: those teeth mean strong leaders are recommended, and it rewards a quiet, patient presentation. It is fast and slippery, so do not rush it once it is on. The other thing worth knowing is timing, which I will come back to, because unlike most of the fjord’s fish, the dogfish comes on in the middle of the day rather than in low light.

Is the Spiny Dogfish Worth Targeting?

Being honest about it: the dogfish is a modest earner. My Trophy returned 2,869 coins and 2,742 XP, so this is not a money fish. Where it earns its place is convenience and collection. It bites in the daytime lull when the low-light species like Meagre and European Hake are quiet, so it fills the gap in a session rather than needing a trip of its own. And it is a shark, which makes it a satisfying tick on the species list. For the bigger payouts on this map, see my Trophy Meagre guide, and for another easy low-light catch on the same rig, the European Hake guide.

Where to Catch Spiny Dogfish at Skårland Fjord

This is a boat catch, so take the Valkyrie or your boat of choice out onto the fjord. Head for the marked area near coordinates -1438, -2699 on the Skårland Fjord map, out from Ranvika Marina. This is the same productive stretch of water that also gives up Meagre and European Hake, so it is an efficient area to anchor over and work through several species. Drop a marker buoy when you arrive so you can hold the spot and return to it. Treat the coordinate as a starting area rather than an exact pixel, since the fish moves, but this is water that has produced dogfish for me. Get the rig down and keep it on the bottom.

Best Time: Midday

Here is the useful part that sets the dogfish apart. While most of the Skårland Fjord trophies want low light, the dogfish comes on in the middle of the day. I caught mine at 14:56, right on the midday activity peak you can see on the fish activity chart. That makes it the perfect fish to target in the daytime slot between your early morning and after-dark sessions for the low-light species. Use the Time Forward feature to reach midday for the dogfish, then swing back to a low-light window for Meagre or Hake. As always, avoid Next Day, which sells all your fish. Use Forward Time to move within the same day instead.

The Setup for Spiny Dogfish

This is the same everyday Skårland workhorse I run for most bottom species, the Sigma F 200 NE SE, set up as a bottom rig. Here is the exact rig I used for the Trophy above.

One honest note on the leader. The game warns that the dogfish has sharp teeth and that strong leaders are a must, and a steel leader is the safe choice for any toothy fish. I landed my Trophy on the standard fluorocarbon leader above, so it is doable with the workhorse rig, but if you start losing fish to bite-offs, switch to a steel leader. For a small dogfish the fluoro held, but I would not rely on it for anything bigger and toothier on this map.

Bait: What Actually Worked

Here is something the in-game notes will not tell you. I caught my Trophy dogfish on Mussel Meat, even though Mussel Meat is not listed among the dogfish’s preferred baits. It worked anyway, and it is a strong, soft saltwater bait, so do not discount it. That is the kind of thing you only learn on the water rather than from a bait list.

If you want to stick to the game’s preferred options, the dogfish officially favours Atlantic Herring, Scaled Sardines, Japanese Jack Mackerel, Mackerel cut baits, Medium and Large Fish Strips, Bluey, Black Lugworms, Crab, Peeler Crab, Gulf Shrimp, Giant Tiger Prawn, and Razor Shell. Any of those is a safe bet, and Mussel Meat is a proven off-list extra.

Prefer Lures?

If you would rather work lures, the dogfish takes Nordic Pilkers, Saltwater Twisters, Baby Halibuts, and Saltwater Slugs. Jigging one of these over the bottom in the midday window is a fair alternative to sitting on bait.

How to Fish It

Put it together and it is simple. Travel out to the marked area near Ranvika Marina, drop a marker buoy, and set your time to midday. Bait up with Mussel Meat or one of the preferred baits, send the bottom rig down, and let it sit. When a dogfish takes, expect a fast, slippery fight, so keep steady pressure and do not give it slack. Land it, and you have a shark logged on your Skårland collection.

Common Mistakes

Fishing the wrong time. Unlike most of the fjord, the dogfish bites midday, not in low light. Target it in the daytime peak and save the low-light windows for Meagre and Hake.

Ignoring the teeth. The game recommends strong leaders for a reason. Fluorocarbon held for my Trophy, but if you get cut off, switch to a steel leader rather than fighting it.

Expecting a big payout. The dogfish is a modest earner. Target it for the collection and for filling the midday slot, not for coins.

Advancing to the next day by accident. Next Day sells all your fish. Use Forward Time to move within the same day and keep your catch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you catch Spiny Dogfish at Skårland Fjord?

Take the boat out to the marked area near coordinates -1438, -2699, out from Ranvika Marina, drop a marker buoy, and fish a bottom rig on the seabed. That is the spot where I landed my Trophy, and it is the same water that also gives up Meagre and European Hake.

What bait works for Spiny Dogfish in Fishing Planet?

I caught mine on Mussel Meat, even though it is not on the dogfish’s preferred list. Its official preferred baits include Atlantic Herring, Scaled Sardines, Japanese Jack Mackerel, Crab, Peeler Crab, Gulf Shrimp, and Razor Shell, among others.

What is the best time to catch Spiny Dogfish?

Midday. Unlike most of the fjord’s fish, the dogfish comes on in the middle of the day. I caught mine at 14:56 on the midday activity peak, so it is a good target for the daytime lull between low-light sessions.

Do you need a steel leader for Spiny Dogfish?

The game recommends strong leaders because the dogfish has sharp teeth. I landed my Trophy on a fluorocarbon leader, so it is possible with the standard rig, but a steel leader is the safer choice if you are getting bitten off.

What rod and rig do you need for Spiny Dogfish?

A standard saltwater bottom rod works well. I use the Sigma F 200 NE SE with a Glacion 21000 SE reel, a fluorocarbon leader, a #5/0 hook, and a 375 g sinker, baited with Mussel Meat.