Overview
Deep-water fish of Nordic waters, lives on rocky bottoms. Prized meat highly appreciated in Scandinavia.
Identification
Cylindrical bodyThick lipsSingle dorsal finSmall and smooth scalesBarbels on chinProminent caudal muscles
- Body
- It has an elongated and robust body with a single long dorsal fin.
- Colouration
- Usually light brown with shades tending towards gray or white on the belly.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Not very evident
- Growth
- medium, grows more rapidly in its early years
Taxonomy
- Family
- Lotidae
- Order
- Gadiformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Melanogrammus aeglefinusPollachius virensGadus morhuaMicromesistius poutassouTrisopterus luscus
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- deep_sea, reefs
- Preferred bottom
- rock, gravel
- Geographic distribution
- Widespread in the northern Atlantic, from the shores of Labrador to Iceland and Norway.
- Micro-habitat
- Hides among rocks and crevices of the seabed.
Often found in crevices of underwater cliffs, prefers environments rich in shelters.
Presence by sea area
Eu Atlantico NePeak
Eu Mare NordPeak
Na Atlantico NwPeak
Na Costa Est NordPeak
Arctic AtlanticoPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- crustaceans, annelids, gastropods
- Secondary prey
- echinoderms, small fish, amphipods
- Occasional prey
- squid, polychaetes
- Feeding behaviour
- Predominantly hunts at night, using its barbels to sense prey in the rocky bottom.
- Natural predators
- sharks, seals, large pelagic predators
Feeding depends on the availability of benthic invertebrates.
Behaviour
- Activity
- nocturnal
- Social behaviour
- solitary
- Aggressiveness
- low
- Migration
- resident
- Seasonal behaviour
- Slight increase in activity during the spawning season in spring.
- Juveniles
- Juveniles tend to live in shallower waters compared to adults.
- Adults
- Adults settle in areas with deep rocky bottoms.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- April, May
- Spawning depth
- between 200 and 600 meters
- Eggs
- Demersal eggs, non-sticky and small in size
- Larval stage
- Pelagic larvae, planktonic in the early stages
- Sexual maturity
- varies between 3 and 7 years
When to catch Tusk
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Daymattino, pomeriggio
Night—
This species shows peak fishing activity in spring, summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Atmospheric pressure
Low
Active on bottom.
Medium
Regular activity.
High
Less active.
Barometric trend
Rising
Less active.
Stable
Feeds regularly.
Falling
More active.
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
underwater cliffsbanksdepths with rocky bottomunderwater valleys
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
longlinestrammel netshand linestraps
Other applicable
Deep DroppingBolentinoBolentino MedioBolentino PesanteBolentino ProfondoLive BaitingPesca A FondoPesca A Fondo PesanteSlow JiggingVertical Jigging
Recommended baits
sardinesshrimpfish entrailssynthetic baits
Baits by pressure
Low
Jig head + softbaitMetal jig medio (40-100g)Slow pitch jigKabura / Tai rubberPaddle tail softbaitSpeed jig
Medium
Pezzo di pesceStriscia di calamaroTrancio di sardinaTrancio di sgombroEsca viva profondaSeppia morta
High
ArenicolaEsca naturale (generica)
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Tends to make short dives toward the bottom and tries to hide among the rocks.
- Handling
- Use gloves to avoid scratches from scales and spines.
- Release
- Ensure the fish can swim away vigorously after release.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The Brosmio can reach a maximum length of about 1 meter and a weight of over 12 kg. It is a species primarily found in cold waters of the northern Atlantic, and is less popular in Italian sport fishing, but catches in Norway and Iceland can exceed 10 kg.
- In the kitchen
- White and firm meat, used in soups and baked dishes.
- Cultural notes
- Valued in Scandinavian cuisine, considered a symbol of abundance.
- Historical notes
- Historically caught with deep-sea longlines in the North Sea, part of Viking culinary tradition.
