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FISH GUIDE · Sea

Grey gurnard: identification, habitat and fishing guide

Eutrigla gurnardus

A grey to grey-green gurnard with a pearly white belly.

Catalogue names : Grey gurnard. Forms and names may vary between habitats.

Editorial review : · This species guide is not permission to fish. Read the precautions below and check the current rules for your location before targeting a species. Some species or populations are protected.

Geographical distribution

Documented presence includes: eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Morocco ; Iceland, Greenland and Madeira ; Mediterranean Sea ; Black Sea.

  • Documented presence : eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Morocco
  • Documented presence : Iceland, Greenland and Madeira
  • Documented presence : Mediterranean Sea
  • Documented presence : Black Sea

Documented areas, not an exhaustive list. Presence in a region does not imply presence in every water body or permission to fish.

Distribution sources

Identification

Short pectoral fins and the marked dorsal fin help distinguish grey gurnard from tub gurnard with its large pectorals and from red gurnard.

Short pectoral fins, whitish lateral line and black dorsal mark; a large head without a deep occipital groove.

Habitat

Paul Duval reports grey gurnard catches particularly in sandy parts of the abers on the northern Brittany coast; this local account is not a general distribution map.

Mainly sandy bottoms, also mud or rock; usual depth 10–150 m according to FishBase.

Diet

Crustaceans, notably shrimp and crabs, and small fish.

Behaviour

Its croaking sounds are documented, but are neither a capture technique nor a reason to keep it out of the water longer.

Young fish begin life in open water before taking up a bottom-associated life.

Indicative biological size

About 30 cm total length according to FishBase.

Fishing context and precautions

David Proudfoot reports grey gurnard catches on a bottom flapper rig with limpet, then a fish strip. He also lists small soft-plastic lures and sabikis for Eutrigla gurnardus; indicative uses subject to the venue’s rules.

The 2017 catch account actually associates grey gurnard with these baits; the species account from 2013 distinguishes Eutrigla gurnardus. This goes beyond the collective list of four gurnards used previously.

A distinctive feature

It can produce croaking sounds.

Sources and review

Each reference includes its access date. Overall editorial review: . Local conditions and regulations may change.

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