Why I Love Cunner And You Should Too
If Jeremy Wade knew about the menacing and vicious nature of the cunner, he probably wouldn’t be messing around in Indo-China trying to catch big lazy catfish. We, as northeast fishermen, are blessed to have a wrasse species that swims in our waters and attacks any bait with reckless abandon. And I’m certainly not talking about tautog, the golden child of the bottom fish family. I’m referring, of course, to the unloved middle child, the cunner. There will always be a special place in my heart for the humble cunner fish. They don’t get big, you have to pick through tons of shorts to get a “big” one, but there is something about them that is so alluring that I devote at least two or three trips every summer to catching them. I’ll grant you, Cunner fishing is the saltwater equivalent of catching sunfish in a farm pond, but if that doesn’t bring you some joy as a fisherman then I don’t know what to tell you.
If you don’t know what a cunner is, you’re not alone. By my estimation, there are thousands of poor unfortunate fishermen in my neck of the woods that are completely unaware that these tasty fish are only a high-low rig away. At surface level, cunner are an incredibly easy fish to catch that are as good eating as any of the blue chip fish that we target here in the Northeast. But the farther I get into this niche fishery, the more I find that I enjoy the challenge of catching a big cunner. Cunner are in the wrasse family, so I treat fishing for them as I would for tautog. A high low rig or epoxy jig head is all you really need to effectively target this fish. Finding them is pretty straight forward, just look for any inshore hump or ledge and there are bound to be a few holding tight to bottom. Then just drop your jig tipped with some clam or fish and wait for the machine gun nibbles that indicate SCN (strong cunner numbers). I usually target cunner in anywhere from 20-60 feet of water, but they can be found in pretty much any depth. Once you find them, which should really only take a few drifts, get ready for non stop action and a full cooler in fairly short order. The meat is very similar to tautog, and every bit as delicious. That’s the basics of cunner fishing, its fun, rewarding, and a great species to target if you’re introducing someone to fishing.
Anyone can cunner fish (the name of my first book?) but consistently catching big ones can be a good challenge. In my experience, the biggest obstacle is smaller cunner. My best guess is that for every big cunner you catch, you’ll hook about a dozen fish that are six inches long or smaller. If you are using clams or squid as bait, you can get stripped before your jig even hits the bottom. I like to use a heavier jig and fish with half a green crab like you would for tautog fishing. The little cunner will still nibble constantly, but it takes a pretty good size fish to actually eat the crab enough to hook it. I’ve used this method to catch the unofficial Maine state record cunner several times (not bragging, the state record is 3 pounds which just goes to show how under valued they are). Another tip for catching big ones is hit areas with strong tides. You’ll probably catch less fish, but most of my big cunner spots are in areas where I struggle with keeping bottom. You can anchor, but I love losing gear so I usually just drift and see how many lobster pots I can hang up on. Its worth it when you connect with a bright red football that fights like holy hell and makes a great ceviche. I’m calling my shot: this summer I will weigh in a new state record cunner. I challenge you, unnamed reader, to best my imminent record and join the devote few of us that consider the lowly cunner an apex predator.
-Grady
