As visual hunters with a good population, the gurnards (Eutrigla gurnardus) feed best during daylight hours and enjoy calm and still water conditions. Not the easiest to catch as fussy and vigilant species, the gurnard can commonly be found in calmer areas such as marinas and harbours feeding over clean sand and mud. The best baits to use should be easily found, giving a strong scent, such as Mackerel and fresh fish baits. Once the drift has started, the best way to catch a gurnard is to allow the lead weight to hit bottom, then lift the rod tip back up immediately, holding the lead up slightly off the bottom. Finding a heavier lead weight minimises the chances of the line streaming away, once the correct weight is found, heavy enough to stay in contact with the seabed. An essential factor is to keep just enough lead to retain contact with the seabed, which will require a constant change of lead weight as the flow changes. Having the right lead weight is crucial as it helps detect bites, especially in deep water. Gurnard bites are as fast as they rattle as small fish; there will be a small presence of strength but a significant amount of movement. Gurnards can genuinely be released back into any water, provided that the hooks are removed safely through keeping them in the water and releasing them slowly back, holding the tail gently.