Tub Gurnard

[Portland Pirate]

The above picture is of a Tub Gurnard. Because of its Red colour it is often mistaken for a Red Gurnard. The blue outline of the Pectoral fins are one of the easiest methods of identification.
Until Rick Stein extolled its virtues as a culinary delight, it had little commercial value and was normally caught in large numbers for use as pot bait.
The Tub gurnard is the largest of the Gurnard's commonly found in UK waters. It prefers sand, mud and gravely area where it uses its extended first three thickened rays of its pectral fin for walking and detecting invertabrates in.

It can be caught using lugworm, ragworm, Mackerel, crab and squid. Best bait for targeting Gurnard is Ragworm tipped with a small sliver of Mackerel.

Latin name: Trigla Lucerna

British Record Boat: 11lb 7oz (1972)

British Record Shore: 12lb 3oz (1956)