7/06/06 Rock Channel

[Flukiephil]

Myself, Petethebeat, Mark D and Paul M got onto the bank early today in the hope of a smoothie or two but it was not to be with very little tide flow on a 25ft tide. Glorious weather though and it was nice just to be out fishing enjoying the company.

Very slow indeed until just after low when I caught this Plaice of 1lb 7oz




Soon after Pete landed this Tub Gurnard of 14oz



It looks like these Gurnard a going to be a regular thing this summer!

Everybody then had a smattering of dabs to finish the session off

[lee1317]

nice 1 boys sorry the smoothies were'nt playing again

[Shacky]

Excellent . You will be experts at this venue now.......................I know who to follow on the Summer League round 4

[Petethebeat]

Excellent . You will be experts at this venue now.......................I know who to follow on the Summer League round 4

The match wont be on the sand bar Shack....can you imagine the lifeboat coming out for 40 anglers!

[Paul M]

I foolishly mentioned to the lads at the start of the session that I hadn’t blanked for ages; it was touch and go right until the end. Guess what, off came the Smoothy end tackle and on went small hooks and lots of beads. I reeled in a welcome postage size dab second to last cast. Blank off. Flukie Phil strikes again, well in mate.

[Flukiephil]

I have just had a look at the NWASA specimen weight for Tub Gurnard and it is 1lb 8 oz. I have a feeling there maybe one or two of these caught over the summer!

[Petethebeat]

Their a nice fish, but I think they use those big dorsels to gently pick up the bait and pop it in there mouths. The one I got give no indication it was hooked what so ever! Big gobs though.

[Paul M]

Done some checking and put this together, interesting to note that the boat record came off Wallasey. Perhaps a beach record is in the offing.
Common Name(s): Tub Gurnard
Scientific Name:Trigla lucerna
Usual Size:Max. 75cm , Normally around 60cm
UK Record Weights from rod/line:
Shore:12lb-3oz Langland Bay WalesG.J Reynolds 1976
Boat:11lb-7oz-4dr Wallasey C.W.King 1952
Breeding: Spawning from May to July.
Habitat: Common bottom dwelling fish of inshore waters of between 30 to 150m or deeper, although it may be encountered in the mid-water column. Favours mud to sandy/gravel substrates, with smaller fish found in more shallow waters.
Food: Favours benthic fauna i.e. crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps, but the diet may also include small fish.
Range: Found all around the coast of the British Isles.
Additional Notes:
Gurnards are able to grunt or growl by use of muscles associated with the swim bladder,
and is believed to aid in keeping schools together
IDENTIFICATION
Tub gurnards have the more rounded or blunt dorsal fin of the three main species. The scales are small and the pectoral fins extend past the vent.
The red gurnard carries fairly large scales, with the pectoral fins only just reaching the vent. The dorsal fin is much sharper in profile and higher when extended above the back than the tub and grey.
Grey gurnards have a slimmer body shape than the red and tub. The lateral line has small boney scutes running along it’s length and the pectoral fins are short not reaching the vent.
I've caught lots of 4 - 6lb fish off Rhyl on the Jensen..
Give us a shout when you’re out next.