Cunner

Although they used to be fished in hundreds of thousands of pounds, cunner fish on the east coast have lost much of their fame as a tasty panfish. No one is really sure why, but for some reason the popularity of the cunner as a table fish has declined in recent years. It could be due to the fact that they are a rather small fish that can be easily overlooked as bony, and not worth the effort to fillet, or it could be that many fishermen hold personal resentments towards the fish. Cunner are sneaker fish with tiny mouths, notorious for stealing bait off of hooks. If you are really looking to catch some of these tricky fish you will need very small hook and a lot of patience. Cunner, although not commonly sought after, can be found in the Raritan Bay year round. They rarely leave their homes on the ocean floor, carefully hidden with their color-changing scales in shell fish beds. However, once the water starts to cool in the winter, the cunner's behavior starts to change. Cunner go through a sort of hibernation in the winter where they have minimal movement and feeding. Although not a common meal anymore, cunner is perfectly capable of being eaten. They are typically pan-fried, baked whole, or sometimes filleted. They are said to have a delicious musky taste if you take the time to prepare them.

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      Description: Atlantic croaker
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Latin name: Tautogolabrus adspersus

Taxonomy, classification Size 6-10 inches Weight: less than 3 pounds Season: year round Catch Method Catch Restrictions

1. New Jersey
2. New York
3. Federal

Sustainability Landings (tonnage) -Belford -Raritan Bay Food Description