Tub Gurnard
Tub gurnard turn up as bycatch in the southern North Sea, caught by Dutch commercial trawlers working sandy bottom grounds. They're not a primary target for sport anglers, but shore and boat fishers occasionally land them along the Dutch coast.
North Sea biomass has been rising since the mid-1990s, so encounters are becoming more common.
Scientific Name: Chelidonichthys lucerna
Also known as rode poon, rode knorrhaan, sapphirine gurnard, yellow gurnard, red gurnard
- Vivid reddish-orange body with large, wing-like pectoral fins that flash bright blue and green on the underside — unmistakable in hand.
- Heavily armoured, bony head with sharp spines along the gill plates; handle carefully when unhooking.
- Three free finger-like rays below each pectoral fin, used to probe the seabed for prey.
- Common fish run 25–40 cm; larger specimens can reach 60–75 cm and weigh up to several kilograms.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- A native North Sea species, present year-round in Dutch coastal and offshore waters of the eastern Atlantic (FAO area 27).
- Lives on sandy and mixed-sediment seabed, typically between 20 and 150 metres depth — well within range of North Sea trawl grounds.
- Juveniles move inshore in late summer; adults tend to occupy deeper offshore grounds through winter.
- Biomass in the North Sea has been on an upward trend since 1995 and has held at a higher stable level since around 2016.
Key Locations
- Southern North Sea — the primary range for Dutch commercial fleets and the most likely area for incidental sport catches from charter boats out of ports like IJmuiden and Den Helder.
- Inshore sandy coastal grounds along the Dutch North Sea coast in late summer, when juveniles move toward shallower water.
Specific Spots
- Sandy or gravel-mixed bottom patches where shrimps and small crabs concentrate — gurnard use their finger-like rays to feel out prey in the sediment.
- Shallow inshore sandy ground in late summer, when juveniles move toward the coast.
- Deeper offshore banks and flat sandy plains in autumn and winter, where commercial trawlers encounter the highest densities.
Tub Gurnard FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Tub Gurnard?
Ragworm, sandeel, and strip baits fished hard on the bottom account for most incidental catches; gurnard pick up baits intended for flatfish and cod. Small soft-plastic shrimp or crab imitations on a jig head, worked slowly along sandy bottom, can draw deliberate takes from feeding fish.
When is the best time to fish for Tub Gurnard?
Late summer and early autumn, juveniles move inshore, increasing the chance of encounters from the Dutch coast. Year-round offshore, adults are present on deeper North Sea grounds throughout the year, with commercial bycatch recorded in all seasons.
How do you catch Tub Gurnard?
Tub gurnard are rarely targeted deliberately by Dutch sport anglers; most are caught from charter or private boats while bottom fishing for cod, plaice, or other demersal species over sandy North Sea ground. Bottom rigs with natural bait fished hard on the seabed are the standard method.
What do Tub Gurnard eat?
Juveniles feed on small crustaceans, copepods and shrimps. As they grow, crabs and prawns become the main food, making bottom-bounced soft-plastic crab or shrimp imitations a logical choice.
Where do Tub Gurnard live?
A native North Sea species, present year-round in Dutch coastal and offshore waters of the eastern Atlantic (FAO area 27). Lives on sandy and mixed-sediment seabed, typically between 20 and 150 metres depth, well within range of North Sea trawl grounds.
See it in the app
Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Tub Gurnard.
- 01 · Species map filter
Map every Tub Gurnard water
Pick Tub Gurnard and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.
- 02 · Waterbody species
Tap any water. See what lives there.
Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.
- 03 · Angler Intelligence
Ask how to catch Tub Gurnard
Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.
Stop guessing where Tub Gurnard are.
Open the map, filter by Tub Gurnard, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.
- Species map filter
- Angler Intelligence
- Fishing journal
Explore other species
Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.
No species information available.
Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.
onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.