Black Bream/Spondyliosoma cantharus.
Average Size – 6oz-1lb
British Record – 6lb 8oz 6drms
All bream are deep-bodied, thin fish. The black bream are members of a large family of fish which all have similar appearances. The black bream are identified by their silver flanks with bluish-black back. When they are initially landed black stripes become visible down the flanks of the fish which get increasingly more visible the longer the fish is out of water. These disappear however once the fish has been killed if it’s being kept for the pot. These fish have large eyes like many predators and a short, powerful forked tail. Care must be taken when handling these fish as they have a long, spiked dorsal fin, much like the one found on bass and wrasse.
Black bream are a summer visitor to our shorelines, generally making their first appearance in late June and staying inshore until September, although in some warmer years they can be caught through until mid-October. They can be caught from most venues that provide a fair depth of water but have a liking for rocks and reefs and are commonly found close to piers and breakwaters. They are also frequently caught from steep shingle beaches that have a good depth of water close to the shore. These feisty predators have a liking for worm baits, particularly ragworm but will readily take thin strips of squid and mackerel. They often respond well to a cocktail of worm tipped with squid. Black bream have very small mouths so small hook, size 2 and smaller, and small baits should be used. Multi-hook flapper or boom rigs are the best rigs to use. If you are lucky enough to catch a sizeable black bream these fish make a very tasty meal.
British Record – 6lb 8oz 6drms
All bream are deep-bodied, thin fish. The black bream are members of a large family of fish which all have similar appearances. The black bream are identified by their silver flanks with bluish-black back. When they are initially landed black stripes become visible down the flanks of the fish which get increasingly more visible the longer the fish is out of water. These disappear however once the fish has been killed if it’s being kept for the pot. These fish have large eyes like many predators and a short, powerful forked tail. Care must be taken when handling these fish as they have a long, spiked dorsal fin, much like the one found on bass and wrasse.
Black bream are a summer visitor to our shorelines, generally making their first appearance in late June and staying inshore until September, although in some warmer years they can be caught through until mid-October. They can be caught from most venues that provide a fair depth of water but have a liking for rocks and reefs and are commonly found close to piers and breakwaters. They are also frequently caught from steep shingle beaches that have a good depth of water close to the shore. These feisty predators have a liking for worm baits, particularly ragworm but will readily take thin strips of squid and mackerel. They often respond well to a cocktail of worm tipped with squid. Black bream have very small mouths so small hook, size 2 and smaller, and small baits should be used. Multi-hook flapper or boom rigs are the best rigs to use. If you are lucky enough to catch a sizeable black bream these fish make a very tasty meal.
