The enigmatic gurnard is never going to win any awards for its fighting skills but when it comes to putting it on to the plate, there’s not many fish that can match it for taste.
Gurnard can live for up to 16 years, reaching a length of about 55cm and the older and bigger they get, the more fertile they become. They have been caught in spawning condition throughout the year and throughout New Zealand waters, but spawning activity probably takes place during warmer months.
Habitat and movement
Gurnard are found across a far greater area and depth range than most inshore fish species, from the North Cape to Stewart Island, in depths as great as 200m.
Juveniles are usually found in shallow waters; sometimes in estuaries, but adults prefer deeper habitats. They prefer open sandy bottoms where they feed primarily on crabs, but also worms and shellfish. The first three rays of their pectoral fins form finger like feelers that they use to detect their prey.
When they are not feeding they usually bury themselves in the sand so that only their eyes are visible.
Gurnard are pretty common along the entire west coast, but harbours such as the Manukau Harbour offer the ideal habitat as these waters are very productive in terms of food.
Best methods
Gurnard are a bottom-dwelling fish so sinkers are always going to be the go-to method.
One of the best methods is a ledger (dropper) rig with at least a 3oz sinker on the end (but heavier if strong currents are running). If you’re the type of fisher who can bear to use shellfish as bait, instead of eating it, then this can also be deadly.
Use a 5/0 circle hook with cut baits – kahawai and squid work but one of the best baits for gurnard is mullet.
Perhaps surprisingly for such a sedentary fish, they do take slowjigs and softbaits from time to time.
Catch Regulations
The minimum legal length for gurnard is 25cm as part of a combined daily bag limit of 20 finfish in the Auckland and Kermadec area. Limits are different in other areas so please make sure you check local fishing regulations with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) before your trip.
