Overview
Very common gregarious Mediterranean fish. Moves in large schools near the surface, often near reefs and piers.
Identification
Black spot on the tailElongated bodySmall terminal mouthRelatively large eyeSilver scalesThin dorsal finsForked tailSilvery coloration
- Body
- Elongated body with lateral compression.
- Colouration
- Silver-gray with a distinctive black spot at the base of the tail.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/barely noticeable
- Growth
- Fast, grows quickly in food-rich environments.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Sparidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Sparus aurataDiplodus sargusDiplodus vulgarisLithognathus mormyrusPagellus erythrinusBoops boops
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, reefs, open_sea
- Preferred bottom
- rock, reef, seagrass
- Geographic distribution
- Common in the Mediterranean Sea and along the Atlantic coast of North Africa and Southern Europe.
- Micro-habitat
- Often found near reefs and piers, forming large schools swimming near the surface.
Prefers shallow waters near rocky coasts and coral reefs.
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 Azzorre Madeira CanariePeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- small crustaceans, gastropods, polychaetes
- Secondary prey
- algae, organic detritus, small fish
- Occasional prey
- plankton, jellyfish
- Feeding behaviour
- Filters food at the surface or scrapes from the bottoms, limiting its movement to rocky or vegetation-rich areas.
- Natural predators
- dentex dentex, epinephelus marginatus, sphyraena barracuda
Diet varies according to local prey availability.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- large_schools
- Aggressiveness
- low
- Migration
- non-migratory
- Seasonal behaviour
- Minor depth variations according to water temperature, favoring warmer areas in summer.
- Juveniles
- Young form smaller schools and explore low and protected coastal areas.
- Adults
- Moves in large schools for defense, often near reefs or submerged wrecks.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- April, May, June
- Spawning depth
- between 10 and 40 meters
- Eggs
- Pelagic, small and transparent eggs.
- Larval stage
- Larvae are pelagic and develop rapidly in warm surface waters.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-4 years
When to catch Saddled seabream
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Dayalba, tramonto, mattino
Night—
This species shows peak fishing activity in spring, summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Ideal conditions
Atmospheric pressure
Low
Active schools on surface, easy to spot.
Medium
Regular mid-water activity.
High
Goes deeper, less visible.
Barometric trend
Rising
Goes to mid-water.
Stable
Active schools on surface.
Falling
Very active, feeds voraciously.
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: high
Where to catch it
Best spots
reefspiersrocky areascoral reefs
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
light bottom fishingbottom fishingfloat fishinglight spinning
Other applicable
BolognesePesca A GalleggianteRock FishingSpinning UltraleggeroBolognese LeggeraBolognese MediaBolentino LeggeroBeach FishingBeach LedgeringBolentinoBolentino MedioLight Rock FishingPesca A BombardaPesca A FondoPesca A Fondo LeggeraSurfcastingSurfcasting LeggeroSurfcasting MedioSurfcasting Notturno
Recommended baits
shrimpsardinessquidcrab pieces
Baits by pressure
Low
GrubPiuma biancaPopper piccoloSabiki standardSoftbait piccolo / LRFStickbait WTDMetal jig leggero (20-40g)
Medium
Gambero morto / Gambero
High
BigattinoPane raffermoCozzaEsca naturale (generica)AlgaPasta / Pastella
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Feisty when hooked, often circles tightly.
- Handling
- Handle carefully to avoid damaging the silvery skin and fins.
- Release
- Gently release back into the water to minimize stress.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- Occhiate can reach maximum sizes of about 34 cm and weigh over 1 kg. In Italy, notable specimens have been caught in the waters off Cilento and Sardinia. Commonly caught in the Mediterranean, specimens over 500 g are considered remarkable.
- In the kitchen
- Greatly valued grilled or baked with local herbs.
- Cultural notes
- Known in literature for its brilliant silvery reflections and common in Mediterranean fishing tales.
- Historical notes
- Fishing for occhiate was known in ancient Rome, where it was prized for its delicate flesh.
