Fish
Blackspot seabream
Pagellus bogaraveo
Out of season
—
Fishing zones
Wild
Origin
33 cm
Minimum size
Description
Its body is oval and tall, compressed laterally. Its head is short with a rounded profile. Its eyes are proportionally very large, with a diameter greater than the length of its snout. It has a large, distinct black spot at the origin of the lateral line (just above the gill cover). This spot appears only in individuals that have exceeded a certain size (approximately 10–15 cm). Its typical size ranges from 30 to 50 cm, but it can exceptionally reach 70 cm and weigh 4 kg.
Habitat
It is a benthopelagic fish that lives in schools, especially when young. It is generally found between 150 and 700 meters, but it can descend to depths of up to 800 meters on the continental slope. It prefers sandy, muddy, or rocky bottoms. An omnivore with a predominantly carnivorous diet, it feeds on small fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and worms.
Distribution
It is found in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Its range extends from southern Norway and Iceland to the coasts of Mauritania and Senegal in the south, including the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. It is very common in the Mediterranean (though rarer in the eastern basin) and in the Bay of Biscay. It is an iconic fish of the deep waters of the Azores.