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How to catch Lumpsucker

Cyclopterus lumpus Linnaeus, 1758

About Lumpsucker fishing

The lumpfish is a distinctive marine species belonging to the family Cyclopteridae, easily recognised by its short, ball-like body, knobbly ridges, and a modified pelvic fin that forms a powerful ventral suction disc. It inhabits cold saltwater environments, typically moving from deep pelagic zones into shallow rocky coastal waters during the spring migration. This benthopelagic fish feeds on small crustaceans, jellyfish, and various soft-bodied marine organisms. While generally caught as an incidental shore or commercial catch rather than a traditional game fish, its unusual biology and striking sexual dimorphism make it a fascinating subject for marine biologists and occasional specialist anglers.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    40 cm

  • Market value

    Low

  • Habitat

    Saltwater

  • Season

    Spring, Summer, Winter

  • Also known as

    Hen-fish, Kiark-varrey, Lump, Lumpfish

Lumpsucker

Caudal shape

More or less truncate tail fin shape distinguishes the lumpfish.

Forehead

More or less straight forehead slope leading to the dorsal hump.

Bony Tubercles

Prominent rows of large bony tubercles cover the bulky body.

Lumpsucker fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    40 cm (max 61 cm TL )

  • Typical weight

    2 kg (max 9.5 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    0.6–11.4 °C

  • Depth

    0–868 m

  • Longevity

    13 years

  • Body shape

    Short And / Or Deep

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    46.8

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Low

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Peak

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Peak

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Low

  • Night

    After dark

    Low

When to fish for Lumpsucker

01
January
02
February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
11
November
12
December

How to catch Lumpsucker

Tips for catching Lumpsucker

Anglers targeting lumpfish generally encounter them during their late winter and spring spawning runs when adults move tightly into shallow, rough ground around rocky headlands and kelp beds. Because they lack a traditional swim bladder and rely on their ventral sucker to anchor against heavy surges, presentations must be kept right on the bottom or tightly drifted within gullies where water movement is moderate. Tough natural baits such as peeler crab, prawn, or mussel presented on strong, short traces work best, as takes can be extremely subtle and heavy-bodied fish will often simply clamp onto the offering. Patience is essential when working tight to kelpy margins on big spring low waters, and any accidental catches should be handled with care and returned promptly without disturbing active breeding sites.

Other names for Lumpsucker

Local and alternate names anglers use for Lumpsucker.

  • Lumpfish
  • Lumpsucker
  • Lump
  • Kiark-varrey
  • Hen-fish

Best equipment to catch Lumpsucker

Compare fishing methods for Lumpsucker — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 2 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Lumpsucker

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

How Lumpsucker migrates — Oceanodromous

Migrates within the sea between spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and never enters fresh water. Follow its seasonal shifts along the coast and offshore.

How Lumpsucker migrates — Oceanodromous 1. Eggs: Laid on the spawning grounds. 2. Larvae: Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds. 3. Juveniles: Grow up in sheltered nursery waters. 4. Adults: Range widely over the feeding grounds. 5. Spawners: Return to the spawning grounds each season.
Spawning grounds Nursery grounds Feeding grounds

1 Eggs

Spawning grounds

Laid on the spawning grounds.

2 Larvae

→ Nursery grounds

Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds.

3 Juveniles

Nursery grounds

Grow up in sheltered nursery waters.

4 Adults

Feeding grounds

Range widely over the feeding grounds.

5 Spawners

→ Spawning grounds

Return to the spawning grounds each season.

It stays in the sea and never runs up into fresh water.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of Lumpsucker

  • Diet

    Carnivore

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Morning · Afternoon

  • Social

    Schooling · Shoaling · Solitary

  • Main prey

    Baitfish

  • Used as bait

    Yes

Prey and predators of Lumpsucker

Prey is what Lumpsucker eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.

Prey

What it eats

Predators

What hunts it

Where Lumpsucker lives

Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.

Habitats
Saltwater
Depth zone
Sublittoral, Bathyal
0–868 m
Usually 50–150 m
Water column
Benthopelagic
Just above the bed

Where this species lives