THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

GREY GURNARD Eutrigla gurnardus
Bucket List status – result
A text book grey gurnard, while having
the same blunt facial profile as the
other gurnard species, is a beautiful
metallic grey, often with a liberal
scattering of small white speckles. But,
and not infrequently the case either, if
an individual has been feeding heavily
on small crustaceans, particularly
shrimps, the basic grey colouration can
begin to look decidedly red tinged. So
don't take colour as an absolute guide.
As with all the gurnards, go to the
lateral line for positive confirmation,
which in this case is a series of sharply pointed back facing scutes with a rough prickly feel when
brushed against the grain from tail to head. A prominent dark blotch on the membranes of the first
dorsal fin will also help put the issue beyond doubt, as will the length of the pectoral fins which reach
the vent.
The smallest, most abundant, and best distributed of the four home waters gurnard species. Also the
one most likely to be found closest to the shore. But again, not a species you would realistically go out
and target. More a case of if you fish small enough and often enough over clean through to quite mixed
ground, an odd one must eventually come along.
Some of the better ones I have taken have been on feather rigs baited with small strips of mackerel belly
fished at the bottom. I've also had plenty of smaller specimens just on the feathers themselves. In fact,
we often pick up really small ones in quite shallow water on shrimp rigs just off North Pier at Blackpool,
an area which for some reason attracts lots of mackerel, which is why we go there, looking for a quick
supply of bait.
STREAKED GURNARD Trigloporus lastoviza
Bucket List status – no result yet
As with all gurnards, a fish with a tall blunt facial profile, though in this case noticeably more so than
the others, and another red coloured species, which because it isn't a particularly large growing fish
maxing out at around a couple of pounds could lead to it not getting noticed or being mis-identified,
which may help explain why so few are reported on rod and line.
Another reason however is most certainly its rather patchy south westerly offshore distribution, though
having said that, authenticated specimens have been taken from the shoreline of Loch Goil on the Clyde,
and aboard boats out around the Isle of Mull.
Again, the lateral line is key to its identification, in this case having skin ridges running out along the
flanks at right angles to it. As mentioned previously, the base colour is red, sometimes with darker
blotches, and with rows of blue spots around the greyish edges of its pectoral fins, but not a continuous
blue band as in the tub gurnard.
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