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| Gurnard PerchCommon names: Gurnard, Gurnet, Red Gurnard Perch.
Minimum size: no limit.
Possession limit: 15. Possession limits apply everywhere, including the home.
Scorpaenids, commonly called gurnards, have a relatively large bony plated head and narrow body with numerous spines. They are commonly red, though may be mottled red/ black with a white belly. The fin colouration normally mimics the body colours.
Gurnards have rough scales and hard sharp bony plates around the gill covers. They have large eyes and very sharp poisonous spines.
There are three species of gurnards commonly caught by recreational fishers.
- Ocean perch are pink to white with three orange to brown vertical bars on sides. They are mostly caught in depths greater than 30m while fishing for striped trumpeter. They grow to around 50cm and over 1.2kg and reach around 40 years of age. Spawning takes place in winter to early spring.
- Rough gurnard perch or thetis fish, are often caught over seagrass, sand and mud in depths of 5-200m. They are characterised by a reddish brown body with large black blotches on the sides and large head spines that project outwards. They grow to around 35cm.
- The common (or ruddy) gurnard perch (pictured) is caught over sand and hard bottom from 2 to over 100m depth. It is characterised by a reddish grey body with three irregular broad saddle-like bands and small head spines. It reaches a length of around 40cm and 1kg in weight.
Flesh of these species is white, firm and good eating when filleted and skinned.
The diet of gurnard perch consists of fish, squid, small crustaceans and marine worms.
Gurnard perch are members of the family Scorpaenidae or Scorpionfish. which includes the tropical stonefish. As the family name suggests, these fish are capable of a powerful sting. Poison glands are found at the base of the dorsal, anal and ventral fin spines.
Whilst no deaths have been reported in Tasmania due to a gurnard perch sting, some years ago one person did stop breathing after being stung, and had to be revived. The pain from the poison can be excruciating. Bearable hot water or mild acid solutions applied to the sting site may help relieve the pain.
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