Red Gurnard
Red gurnard are one of three gurnard species regularly caught in UK waters, turning up from boat and occasionally shore marks across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Smaller on average than the tub gurnard, they're a genuine target for species hunters and light-tackle boat anglers who appreciate their prehistoric armoured head, vivid colouring, and the audible croak they produce when brought aboard.
Scientific Name: Chelidonichthys cuculus
Also known as Soldier, Grunter
- Deep red or pinkish-red body with pinkish-silver mottling; pectoral fins open wide like wings — less vivid blue than the tub gurnard's, which is the key visual distinction.
- Large, angular bony head with a steep snout and a hard, plated skull; the bony extension running from below the eye to the preopercle is a reliable ID feature.
- Two or three enlarged, finger-like rays on each pectoral fin, used to probe the seabed — these give the fish its characteristic 'walking' appearance.
- Typically around 25–35 cm and roughly 450 g (1 lb) average; can reach up to 70 cm, though fish over 3 lbs are considered a good catch.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to UK waters; widely recorded throughout British and Irish coasts, from the North Sea into the Kattegat and around to the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay.
- A bottom-dwelling species found over sand, gravel and rocky seabed on the continental shelf, from around 15 m down to 400 m depth.
- Juveniles tend to stay in shallower sandy ground close inshore (6–10 m); adults move to rougher mixed ground — flat rocky shelves, boulder gutters and reef — typically in 30–60 m or deeper.
- Red gurnard favour rougher ground more than grey gurnard, which prefer cleaner sand; both share water with tub gurnard on mixed reef and sandy-patch habitat.
Key Locations
- Cornwall and the wider Celtic Sea — steady commercial landings and good recreational catches from mixed reef and sandy ground; juveniles plentiful in shallow sandy bays.
- The English Channel — mixed-ground boat marks from Devon to Kent produce red gurnard alongside tub and grey gurnard through summer and autumn.
- Welsh coastal waters — widely recorded around the Welsh coast, particularly over mixed ground in Cardigan Bay and the Bristol Channel approaches.
- Scottish and Irish coasts — present throughout British and Irish waters; less specifically targeted but caught regularly as part of mixed-species bottom fishing.
Specific Spots
- Rocky shelves and low reef with sandy patches nearby — red gurnard use the hard ground for cover and move onto sand to feed.
- Deeper gutters and channels between boulders, where tidal flow concentrates worms and small crustaceans on the bottom.
- Sandy patches adjacent to broken reef, especially where shell and gravel accumulate — the finger-like fin rays are built for probing exactly this kind of mixed substrate.
- In shallower inshore water, clean sand in 6–10 m holds juveniles; these fish respond well to slow retrieves that keep a bait or lure ticking along the bottom.
Red Gurnard FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Red Gurnard?
Ragworm and lugworm on small hooks (size 1–1/0 for larger fish, size 8–12 for LRF) are the most reliable natural baits, fished on a simple running ledger or paternoster hard on the bottom.
When is the best time to fish for Red Gurnard?
May to November is the main productive window for boat-caught red gurnard, with fish becoming more active as water temperatures rise through early summer. Peak fishing falls July to October, when fish are well-distributed over mixed ground and feeding actively.
How do you catch Red Gurnard?
Most UK anglers encounter red gurnard as a welcome by-catch while boat fishing for other bottom species, but they can be targeted deliberately by fishing small baited rigs or soft-plastic worm lures hard on the bottom over mixed reef and sand in 30–100 m.
What do Red Gurnard eat?
Worms and crustaceans (prawns, small crabs, shrimps) make up the bulk of the diet, the finger-like fin rays taste and feel the seabed to locate buried prey. Ragworm, lugworm or peeler crab on a small hook fished hard on the bottom directly imitates this natural forage.
Where do Red Gurnard live?
Native to UK waters; widely recorded throughout British and Irish coasts, from the North Sea into the Kattegat and around to the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay. A bottom-dwelling species found over sand, gravel and rocky seabed on the continental shelf, from around 15 m down to 400 m depth.
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