Tompot Blenny

Parablennius gattorugine

The Tompot Blenny (Parablennius gattorugine) is a chunky, rock-dwelling blenny of the northeast Atlantic and western Mediterranean. It lives in shallow coastal reefs and tide pools, where it hides in crevices and feeds on small invertebrates and algae.

Saltwater

Tompot Blenny reference image — Diego Delso, cc-by-sa, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Stout blenny with a large blunt head and thick lips
Two long, high dorsal fins with a dark eye-like spot on the front section
Mottled brown to olive body with a pale barred or blotched pattern and obvious tentacles above the eyes

Habitat

Shallow rocky coasts, kelp beds, tide pools, and crevices on boulder reefs; usually in intertidal to subtidal water with strong cover and rough bottom.

Bait notes

Rarely targeted as a game fish; small bits of prawn, shrimp, ragworm, mussel, or crab on fine tackle can hook it around rocks. Small soft plastics or tiny lure pieces near cover may work, but bait is more reliable.

Behavior

A site-attached ambush feeder that perches on rocks and darts out to grab crustaceans, worms, mollusks, and algae. It is territorial, often seen peering from holes and retreating quickly when disturbed.

Caution

Spines in the dorsal fin can prick hands; handle carefully. It is generally not a food species and may be protected or locally discouraged from retention in some areas, so check local rules before keeping any.

Fishing notes

Fish very close to rocky structure with light line, small hooks, and minimal weight. Short casts into tide pools, gullies, and crevices work best; expect quick pecks and keep pressure steady to steer fish away from snaggy cover.