Overview
Powerful coastal predator, often near beaches and estuaries, loves chasing prey.
Identification
Long dorsal finDark horizontal stripes on sidesForked tailSmall scalesWide mouthRelatively large eyes
- Body
- Elongated body, laterally compressed, with a streamlined profile.
- Colouration
- Usually silver body with a metallic sheen and bluish shades on the back.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/not prominent
- Growth
- Fast, especially in the early years.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Carangidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Seriola dumeriliSeriola rivolianaSeriola lalandiTrachinotus ovatusPseudocaranx dentex
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, open_sea, estuaries
- Preferred bottom
- sand, rock, reefs
- Geographic distribution
- Found in the Mediterranean Sea, the eastern Atlantic from Portugal to Angola, and along the west coast of Africa.
- Micro-habitat
- Often seen near sandy beaches and estuaries, likes to hide among schools of fish.
Often inhabits shallower waters during warmer months, sticking to environments offering shelter and abundant food.
Presence by sea area
Tirreno NordPeak
Tirreno CentroPeak
Tirreno SudPeak
Adriatico NordPeak
Adriatico CentroPeak
Adriatico SudPeak
Ionio NordPeak
Ionio CentroPeak
Sardegna OvestPeak
Sardegna EstPeak
Sicilia TirrenoPeak
Sicilia Ionio CanalePeak
Eu Mediterraneo OvestPeak
Eu Mediterraneo EstPeak
Eu Golfo BiscagliaPeak
Eu Azzorre Madeira CanariePeak
Af Atlantico Trop EPeak
Af Sudafrica AtlanticoPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- juvenile fish, mullets, sardines
- Secondary prey
- cuttlefish, squid, crabs
- Occasional prey
- shrimp, small mollusks
- Feeding behaviour
- Skilled predator that chases prey quickly, using sudden bursts and a wide mouth.
- Natural predators
- sharks, dolphins, large tuna
Diet is influenced by the availability of small fish and other marine organisms.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- solitary
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- Conducts seasonal coastal migrations in search of breeding areas and food.
- Seasonal behaviour
- Approaches the coast in spring and summer for spawning. In winter, it tends to move to deeper waters.
- Juveniles
- Juveniles form small groups and are often found in shallow coastal areas.
- Adults
- Generally solitary, but may form small groups when hunting.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- May, June, July
- Spawning depth
- between 15 and 40 meters
- Eggs
- Pelagic and small-sized eggs
- Larval stage
- Larvae are planktonic and develop rapidly in protected coastal areas.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-4 years
When to catch Leerfish
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Dayalba, tramonto
Nighttarda sera
This species shows peak fishing activity in 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
Very active, hunts in packs near surface.
Medium
Good activity, follows mullet schools.
High
Moves away from shore, deeper.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
13°COptimal zone: 17-26°C29°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
estuariessandy beachesreefsharbors
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
spinningtrollingdriftingsurfcasting
Other applicable
SpinningPoppingShore JiggingLive BaitingTraina CostieraPesca A Mosca In MareSpinning MedioSpinning PesanteStreamerBeach FishingBolentinoBolentino MedioBolentino PesanteRock FishingSlow JiggingSpinning VeloceSurfcastingSurfcasting MedioSurfcasting NotturnoSurfcasting PesanteTraina Col VivoTrolling OceanicoVertical Jigging
Recommended baits
live baitfishartificial luressardinesmullets
Baits by pressure
Low
JerkbaitMetal jig medio (40-100g)Popper grande (GT)Popper medioSoft plastic grande (20-30cm)Stickbait WTDStickbait lungo (pelagici)
Medium
Cefalo vivoSardina vivaAcciuga vivaEsca viva (generica)Pezzo di pesceTrancio di sardinaGambero vivo
High
Cefalo vivoJerkbaitMetal jig medio (40-100g)
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Combative and fast, tends to make long runs and quick dashes.
- Handling
- Handle carefully to avoid injuries to the fish and the angler.
- Release
- Release swiftly into the water, limiting air exposure.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The IGFA all-tackle world record for the leerfish is 57 kg, caught in Angola in 1993. A popular species in sport fishing in the Mediterranean, where specimens over 30 kg are considered trophies.
- In the kitchen
- Appreciated meat, often roasted or stewed, especially in coastal Italian regions.
- Cultural notes
- The leerfish is symbolically associated with power and agility in the folklore of Mediterranean coastal cultures.
- Historical notes
- Leerfish fishing in the Mediterranean has been practiced for centuries with traditional techniques passed down through generations.
