Species profile
Cunner
Tautogolabrus adspersus
At a glance
Cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 1,259 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, and New Brunswick the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Like tautog, cunner become torpid and nearly stop feeding during cold winter months.
- Rarely exceed 15 inches or 2 pounds, yet are notorious for stealing bait from hooks.
- Known as 'bergall' by New England anglers, who consider them a persistent bait-stealing nuisance.
- Range from Newfoundland south to the Chesapeake Bay around rocky reefs and wharves.
Where Cunner are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Cunner
Background
The cunner, also known as the blue perch, bergall, chogset, choggie, conner or sea perch, is a species of wrasse native to the northwestern Atlantic, where it is found from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Newfoundland to the Chesapeake Bay. They inhabit inshore waters living near the sea floor at depths from 10 to 128 m, preferring areas with beds of seaweed, shipwrecks, or wharf pilings. They spend…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Cunner article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.