Armed Gurnard

Family Peristediidae

REMARKS Maximum length 40 cm. The forked snout of this fish makes it quite unmistakable. Red in colour. A very occasional visitor to southern British waters in the time of Queen Victoria, but not more recently.

CUISINE See Piper. I particularly enjoyed a malarmat cooked aboard the Tunisian trawler which was commanded by Captain Luigi Drago. The fish was taken straight from the trawl, gutted and skinned and cut into sections – which were then simmered in water with herbs and seasoning, and served with a freshly made tomato sauce.