Overview
Very strong bottom predator, loves rocky and mixed bottoms.
Identification
Long pectoral finsStrong mouth with pronounced teethLarge and thick scalesBrilliant colorationProminent lateral lineStrong dorsal and anal finsForked caudal fin
- Body
- Oval body with a compressed profile, and a sturdy head.
- Colouration
- Pinkish-red coloring with silvery reflections; gold and blue lines on the body.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Differences not very noticeable
- Growth
- medium, with faster growth in the early years
Taxonomy
- Family
- Sparidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Sparus aurataDentex dentexDiplodus sargusPagrus majorPagrus auratus
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, open_sea, reefs
- Preferred bottom
- rock, sand, gravel
- Geographic distribution
- Found in the temperate and subtropical waters of the eastern Atlantic, from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, down to South Africa.
- Micro-habitat
- Prefers to reside and hunt near rocky and mixed seabeds with marine vegetation.
Its presence is often an indicator of healthy marine ecosystems.
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
Na Costa Est CentroPeak
Na Costa Est SudPeak
Sa Brasile EstPeak
Sa Brasile SudPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms
- Secondary prey
- small fish, annelids, polychaetes
- Occasional prey
- plankton, algae, fish eggs
- Feeding behaviour
- Active predator that primarily hunts during the day near the seafloor; uses its powerful jaw to crack open hard-shelled prey.
- Natural predators
- sharks, groupers, tunas
Often plays a key role in controlling benthic invertebrate populations.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- small_groups
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- non-migratory, with small seasonal migrations to deeper waters for breeding
- Seasonal behaviour
- In the winter months, it may move to deeper waters, while in summer it comes closer to the shore to feed.
- Juveniles
- Young form small groups and prefer protected coastal areas.
- Adults
- Adults tend to be more solitary and territorial.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- May, June, July
- Spawning depth
- between 60 and 180 feet
- Eggs
- Small pelagic eggs, with quick hatching.
- Larval stage
- Planktonic larvae drift with ocean currents until they develop in safer areas.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-4 years
When to catch Red porgy
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Daymattino
Nighttramonto
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
Very active, rises from bottom.
Medium
Regular activity.
High
Stays very deep.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
13°COptimal zone: 17-26°C29°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
submerged reefsrocky shoalswrecksmixed seafloors
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
bottom fishinglight trollingrod fishingbottom longline
Other applicable
BolentinoVertical JiggingSlow JiggingKabura Tai RubberBolentino MedioPesca A Fondo
Recommended baits
sardineshrimpsquidmarine annelids
Baits by pressure
Low
InchikuKabura / Tai rubberJig head + softbaitShrimp artificiale (gomma)Slow pitch jigSoft plastic grande (20-30cm)Metal jig medio (40-100g)
Medium
Calamaro interoCalamaro vivoFiletto di pesceGambero morto / GamberoGambero vivoPezzo di pescePolpo morto
High
ArenicolaEsca naturale (generica)Verme americanoVerme coreanoVongola / ClamBigattinoMolluschi misti
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Feisty and tough, with strong runs to escape the hook.
- Handling
- Use gloves to avoid injury from fin spines.
- Release
- Release quickly back into the water to reduce stress and damage, promoting species recovery.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The IGFA all-tackle world record for pagro is a 7.55 kg specimen caught off Portugal in 1992. In Italy, the largest documented catches in the Adriatic can exceed 5 kg.
- In the kitchen
- Highly regarded for grilling, fish soups, and baked recipes, especially in Mediterranean coastal regions.
- Cultural notes
- Symbol of abundance in Mediterranean countries and often mentioned in seafaring literature.
- Historical notes
- Historically fished by ancient Greeks and Romans, considered a delicacy for centuries.
