Rockling confusion

[Andy1965]

Hi all, Me & Steve had a couple of Rockling off Holyhead breakwater last week but we're having a little trouble making a definite ID for our species hunt [1].
 
Here's a pic of one of them and another pic of a couple I caught last year, can anyone please give us a positive ID?
 

 

 
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
 
Thanks (13)

[Chiefbeef]

top one LOOKS like a  shore rockling, but without seeing the full 'face' can't be sure, could be a 5 beard

[Scott]

I think there all shore rockling{thu}

[Scott]

Can I pinch that top pic mate?

[stevea]

Cheers all,
 
We weren't sure whether it was a shore or a 3-beard rockling.
 
Help yourself to the pic Scott{thu}
 
Steve

[Andy1965]

Thanks to everyone for the replies [ok]but could anyone please tell me the easiest way to tell the difference between Shore and 3 Beard Rockling?

[karenh]

The shore rockling  has three barbels around its mouth and is a uniform dark brown colour it can be distinguished from three-bearded rockling which is of a very different colouration - reddish brown with obvious blotches.

changed - now correct I think ...........

[Andy1965]

Thanks for that Karen {thu} but I've been reading a book that says the Shore Rockling is a uniform dark brown colour with white edges to the fins and the 3 beard has blotches .
I know the colour of Rockling can vary depending on habitat so there must be someone who knows an easier way to tell the difference?

[karenh]

Thanks for that Karen {thu} but I've been reading a book that says the Shore Rockling is a uniform dark brown colour with white edges to the fins and the 3 beard has blotches .
I know the colour of Rockling can vary depending on habitat so there must be someone who knows an easier way to tell the difference?

I am on a mission now [M][M]

[karenh]

if you take a look here - I think John Law has it sussed with pics too

http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67320&highlight=difference+rockling&page=4

[karenh]

shore http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/pages/shorerockling.html

3 bearded http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/pages/threebeardedrockling.html

[Scott]

Five-Bearded Rockling


Shore Rockling



Three-Bearded Rockling

[karenh]

Scott forgive me for pointing it out but I can't see the barbels on the that 5 bearded ... I assume you must have caught it to know it is one? ..... [4]

[Chiefbeef]

Scott forgive me for pointing it out but I can't see the barbels on the that 5 bearded ... I assume you must have caught it to know it is one? ..... [4]

when they come out of the water most of the time the barbs stick to the skin

[Scott]

You don't need to see the barbels to tell that it's a totally different species though do you, well I don't any way{thu}