Good Fish Guide
Tub gurnard
(Triglia or Chelidonichthys lucerna)
Also known as: Yellow gurnard
Overview
Gurnards belong to a group of fish known collectively as Trigliadae (sea robins). Tub gurnards have three isolated rays on their pectoral fin/ wings which act as legs to allow them to rest and locate food. Gurnards are able to grunt or growl by the use of muscles associated with the swim bladder, and this is believed to aid in keeping schools together.
Tub gurnard are the largest of all the gurnards, growing up to 75cm in length, but more commonly found at lengths of 20-30cm. They live up to 15 years old and mature at ~28cm and 2.8 years old.
Their bodies can be various colours (yellowy or pink, orange, bright red or brown) and they have a brilliant blue lining on their pectoral fins. They are distributed across the Eastern Atlantic from Norway to Cape Blanc (along the African coast) and the Mediterranean and Black seas. Studies have shown that gurnard enters the southern North Sea in spring, leaving in the autumn. In recent years, there is a trend of gurnard remaining in the North Sea over winter. Tub gurnard is abundant in inshore waters of 20-150 m depth, moving to deeper waters (80m) in winter. Smaller tub gurnards frequent shallower waters (2-20 m). Tub gurnard spawns from May to July in the Celtic Sea. Younger fish migrate to coastal waters at the end of summer. Juveniles and smaller tub gurnards feed on small crustaceans and larger gurnards feed on small fish and some cephalopods.
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