Lumpfish
Lumpfish are a cold-water marine species found along Canada's Atlantic coast from Newfoundland and Labrador through Hudson Bay. Historically targeted for their roe — a commercial fishery that ramped up in the 1970s — they're not a recreational angling target.
COSEWIC designated the Atlantic Canada population as Threatened in 2017, and the species is now under federal conservation review.
Also known as Lumpsucker, Lompe
- Short, thick, almost spherical body covered in rows of bony tubercles (lumps), giving the fish a knobbled, armoured look unlike any other Atlantic species.
- Pectoral fins modified into a suction disc on the belly — the fish uses it to anchor to rocks and kelp rather than swim actively.
- Blue-grey to greenish-brown normally; spawning males turn reddish-orange on the sides, fins, and underside — a reliable field ID marker.
- Females grow larger than males, reaching roughly 60 cm and up to 10 kg; most fish encountered are considerably smaller.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Northwest Atlantic; in Canadian waters found from Newfoundland and Labrador south along the coast, and also in Hudson Bay.
- Cold-water species — stays near the bottom on hard, rocky substrate with kelp and other attached vegetation rather than soft sediment.
- Moves inshore to shallow, wave-washed rocky areas to spawn, then returns to deeper offshore water for the rest of the year.
- Not present in freshwater or Pacific Canadian waters; entirely a North Atlantic marine fish.
Key Locations
- Newfoundland and Labrador — the core of the historical Canadian commercial roe fishery and the heart of the species' Canadian range.
- Hudson Bay — a northern extension of the Canadian range, though far less studied than the Atlantic coast population.
Specific Spots
- Rocky inshore reefs and kelp-covered ledges — the suction disc lets them hold position in surge where few other fish can.
- Shallow nearshore zones during spawning, when males guard egg masses in rock crevices and under ledges.
- Deeper offshore hard-bottom areas outside of the spawning period, generally beyond easy shore access.
Lumpfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
How do you catch Lumpfish?
Lumpfish are not a recreational target in Canada. The species was commercially harvested for roe along the Atlantic coast, primarily in Newfoundland and Labrador, beginning in the 1970s, but the population's Threatened status has placed that fishery under significant scrutiny.
What do Lumpfish eat?
Feeds on small crustaceans, jellyfish, comb jellies, worms, and small fish, a slow, deliberate feeder that picks prey off the bottom or from the water column rather than chasing it down.
Where do Lumpfish live?
Native to the Northwest Atlantic; in Canadian waters found from Newfoundland and Labrador south along the coast, and also in Hudson Bay. Cold-water species, stays near the bottom on hard, rocky substrate with kelp and other attached vegetation rather than soft sediment.
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