Gurnard are a very sought after species, very nice eating and a great looking fish too.
They can be caught in sandy bays on fish or shellfish baits.
They seem to prefer calm settled conditions and deeper water.
They dont often venture into the surf, so long casts that can go beyond the surf line into calmer water will help.
More Gurnard info available here
Photo: Mark Roberts
Gurnard caught at Sunset Beach, Port Waikato, New Zealand