Fish

Black seabream (black bream)

Chopa

Spondyliosoma cantharus

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–2½ lb.

Depth

15–150 ft.

Best time

Day and dusk.

Found in

9 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: An oval, deep-bodied gray bream with a small mouth, thin broken gold-gray lines along the sides, and a darker back. Breeding males turn almost black with a blue-gray band.
Typical size: 1–2½ lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and up to about 7 lb.
Diet: Small crustaceans, worms, squid and seaweed.
Behavior: Gathers in big shoals over reefs and rough ground in spring and summer; males guard nests dug in gravel. Fights hard for its size.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from United Kingdom & Ireland, France, Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries), Italy & Malta, Greece & the Adriatic, Turkey, Cyprus & the Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea & Caspian, Morocco & West Africa and Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark). Rocky reefs, seagrass beds and mixed ground from Norway and Britain to Namibia and through the Mediterranean and Black Sea; the English Channel off Dorset and Sussex is famous.
Habitat: Rocky reefs, seagrass beds and mixed ground from Norway and Britain to Namibia and through the Mediterranean and Black Sea; the English Channel off Dorset and Sussex is famous.
Depth: 15–150 ft.
Fishing depth: On or just above the bottom.
Best season: April to September in the UK (spring is peak); all year in the south.
Best time: Day and dusk.
Best tides: A moving tide; neap tides are easier on deep marks.
Best weather / conditions: Calm, settled days.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Squid strips, ragworm, mackerel strip and prawns; groundbait in a bait dropper helps.
Best artificial lures: Small soft plastics, small metal jigs and baited sabikis.
Tackle setup: Light 6–12 lb class boat rod with a small reel.
Hook size: Size 2–1/0 fine wire hooks.
Line: 10–15 lb braid.
Leader: 12–15 lb fluorocarbon, 6–10 ft.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Rig Weight Hooks Bait

As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky reefs, seagrass beds and mixed ground from Norway and Britain to Namibia and through the Mediterranean and Black Sea; the English Channel off Dorset and Sussex is famous.
Rig up: Light 6–12 lb class boat rod with a small reel. 12–15 lb fluorocarbon, 6–10 ft.
Pick your bait: Squid strips, ragworm, mackerel strip and prawns; groundbait in a bait dropper helps. Lures: Small soft plastics, small metal jigs and baited sabikis.
Fish it: Anchor up-tide of a reef, use chum to bring the shoal behind the boat, and fish a long trace with a squid strip on light tackle.
Time it: Day and dusk. A moving tide; neap tides are easier on deep marks.

Fishing techniques: Anchor up-tide of a reef, use chum to bring the shoal behind the boat, and fish a long trace with a squid strip on light tackle.
BigJoe's tip: Bream bites are quick rattles. Keep the rod in your hand and strike the moment the tip pulls down.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Very good: sweet white meat. Scale and grill whole, or bake with herbs.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp dorsal spines; smooth them down before gripping.
Regulations: Minimum sizes apply (23 cm in many UK and EU waters, higher in some UK areas). Some UK areas protect nesting sites in spring. Sea fishing rules change by country: the UK, Ireland and France need no sea license, Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Greece sell or require recreational sea licenses or permits, and Italy asks for a free online registration. All have minimum sizes, and marine reserves have no-fishing zones.
Conservation: Release the guarding males in spring, and keep only a few.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits