Overview
Schooling fish living on rocky and mixed bottoms, very combative.
Identification
Large headSmall mouthLong pectoral finsPronounced scalesSerrated dorsal finsShort black stripes above eyesStriped pattern
- Body
- Oval and laterally compressed body, with a large head.
- Colouration
- Bluish-gray hue with silver reflections and dark transverse bands.
- Sexual dimorphism
- None/slightly noticeable
- Growth
- Medium with steady growth in favorable environments
Taxonomy
- Family
- Sparidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Sparus aurataDiplodus sargusPagellus erythrinusDentex dentexPagrus pagrus
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, reefs
- Preferred bottom
- rock, reef
- Geographic distribution
- Found in the Mediterranean Sea, eastern Atlantic Ocean, from the British Isles to Senegal.
- Micro-habitat
- Hides among rock crevices and near mixed seabeds, often close to seagrass meadows.
Their presence often indicates a healthy marine ecosystem.
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
Diet
- Primary prey
- crustaceans, mollusks, annelids
- Secondary prey
- small fish, seaweed, zooplankton
- Occasional prey
- carcasses, benthic invertebrates
- Feeding behaviour
- Opportunistic predator, feeds mainly on the bottom but can also feed mid-water, using its mouth to dig.
- Natural predators
- seabream, groupers, dolphins, sharks
Diet varies based on available local prey.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- small_groups
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- Non-migratory
- Seasonal behaviour
- During the spawning season, moves closer to the shore, whereas in colder months, tends to move to deeper waters.
- Juveniles
- Form small schools for protection and food.
- Adults
- Often solitary or in small groups, can be territorial in feeding areas.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- April, May, June
- Spawning depth
- Between 20 and 60 meters
- Eggs
- Small, transparent pelagic eggs.
- Larval stage
- Larvae are pelagic and move towards coastal areas as they grow.
- Sexual maturity
- Varies between 2 and 4 years
When to catch Black sea bream
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Daymattino
Nightnotte
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
Very active and less wary.
Medium
Regular activity.
High
Stays near rocks.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
submerged reefsartificial structuresseagrass meadowsrocky bottoms
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
bottom fishingspinninglight trollingfloat fishing
Other applicable
BolentinoPesca A FondoBolentino LeggeroBolentino MedioBologneseBolognese MediaPesca A Fondo LeggeraPesca A GalleggianteRock Fishing
Recommended baits
shrimpsquidclamssardine fillets
Baits by pressure
Low
CozzaGambero morto / GamberoRiccio di mare
Medium
Gambero morto / GamberoGranchio morto / pezzi
High
CozzaRiccio di mareVerme americanoVerme coreanoArenicolaBibiBigattino
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Very combative, puts up a vigorous fight and can break the line with quick bursts.
- Handling
- Handle with care to avoid stress and damage to fins.
- Release
- Release quickly into the water, preferably using a wet landing net.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The known Italian record for the tanuta (Spondyliosoma cantharus) is 3.2 kg caught in the Adriatic Sea. Tanutas can reach up to 60 cm in length and exceed 3 kg in weight, making them sought-after game fish in Mediterranean sport fishing.
- In the kitchen
- In Italy, it is favored for soups and grilling, often cooked with aromatic herbs and lemon.
- Cultural notes
- Often depicted in local Mediterranean art for its beauty and resilience.
- Historical notes
- Historically caught with shore-drawn nets, it was considered a delicacy in Roman times.
