Norwegian record Rock gunnel: 51 g

About Rock gunnel

The rock gunnel (Pholis gunnellus) is a small, ribbon-shaped fish with a flattened body and a long, continuous dorsal fin. Along the base of that fin sit 9–13 black spots edged in white, the best way to recognise it. The body is brownish, yellowish brown or reddish brown, and the skin is very slimy. It lives along the entire Norwegian coast, and elsewhere from France to the Barents Sea, around Iceland and in much of the Baltic. Its home is seaweed and stones from the shore down to about 30 m, though it may move deeper in winter. It eats small mussels, crustaceans, worms and fish eggs. Spawning takes place in winter, from November to January: the female lays a ball of eggs beneath a stone or inside an empty shell, and one or both parents coil around it on guard. It reaches about 25 cm but is usually smaller. It has no angling value.

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia, Reef Life Survey, Atlanterhavsparken

• Habitat: Saltvann
• Best month: April
• Red list status: LC (2021)

See the species guide

Biggest Rock gunnel in FishComp

20 g (39 % of the record) by Joakim Øvrebø. See the catch

How to register a Norwegian record

1. Norwegian sport-fishing records are registered with Villmarksliv, not with FishComp. Read the rules before you do anything else with the fish.
2. Records are based on weight and approved by a jury. You give the weight and length, where it was caught, the gear you used and any witnesses.
3. Keep your photos and notes from the catch. Logging it in FishComp does not register a record.