Cunner
Cunner are small, scrappy wrasse native to Atlantic Canada, found from Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence south along the coast.
They're not a target species for most anglers — they're better known for stripping bait off hooks meant for tautog or other bottom fish. But fished deliberately on light tackle, they're a fun shore catch and genuinely good eating.
Scientific Name: Tautogolabrus adspersus
Also known as Bergall, blue perch, sea perch, chogset, choggie, conner
- Reddish-brown to olive body that shifts color to match the bottom — can look almost orange over kelp, dark grey over rock.
- Distinguished from tautog by a noticeably pointed snout, thinner lips, and large scales that extend onto the gill covers — tautog have a naked patch there.
- Most fish run 6–10 inches; anything over 12 inches is a good one. Maximum size around 17 inches and 2 lbs, though that's rare.
- Sharp dorsal spines that flare when the fish is handled — watch your fingers.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the northwest Atlantic; in Canada, found from Newfoundland and the Bay of Islands through the Gulf of St. Lawrence and south along Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
- Inshore, bottom-oriented fish — lives from the shallows down to about 130 m, but most are caught in water under 20 m.
- Strongly tied to hard structure: rocky reefs, kelp beds, wharf pilings, shipwrecks, and bridge abutments in sheltered coastal waters.
- Nova Scotia and New Brunswick coasts see the most documented catches in Canada, with the Gulf of St. Lawrence also holding fish.
Key Locations
- Nova Scotia coastline — rocky inshore structure from Halifax Harbour outward holds good numbers through the warm months.
- New Brunswick coast and Bay of Fundy inshore areas — wharf pilings and nearshore reefs are reliable spots.
- Gulf of St. Lawrence inshore waters — documented catches along the Quebec and Maritime coasts wherever hard bottom and structure exist.
- Newfoundland's southern and eastern coasts — the northern edge of the range; fish are present but less abundant than further south.
Specific Spots
- Wharf pilings and dock structures — cunner stack up in the shade and current breaks around submerged wood and concrete year-round.
- Rocky reefs with kelp or other seaweed growth; the weed holds small crustaceans and worms that cunner feed on constantly.
- Shipwrecks and rubble piles — any hard relief on a soft bottom concentrates fish, especially where current pushes food past the structure.
- At low tide, exposed boulder fields show you exactly where to fish on the flood — target the seaward edges of those rock piles.
Cunner FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Cunner?
Clam (soft or hard), sandworm, and bloodworm are the top baits, small pieces fished right on the bottom near structure. Fresh bait outperforms frozen significantly. Small pieces of mussel, peeler crab, or shrimp also work; match the size of the bait to a size 6–8 hook so the fish can get it in their mouth.
When is the best time to fish for Cunner?
Late spring through early fall is the productive window, fish become active as inshore water warms and feed steadily through summer. Peak fishing typically runs June through September along the Maritime and Newfoundland coasts when water temperatures are at their highest inshore.
How do you catch Cunner?
Most cunner fishing in Canada is done from shore or docks, dropping a small baited hook straight down to the bottom alongside pilings or rock structure. Boat anglers targeting tautog or other bottom species encounter them constantly as bycatch.
What do Cunner eat?
Mussels, barnacles, small crabs, and other hard-shelled invertebrates, their stout conical teeth are built for crushing shells, so small pieces of clam or mussel on the hook are a direct match.
Where do Cunner live?
Native to the northwest Atlantic; in Canada, found from Newfoundland and the Bay of Islands through the Gulf of St. Lawrence and south along Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Inshore, bottom-oriented fish, lives from the shallows down to about 130 m, but most are caught in water under 20 m.
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