Species › Mediterranean › Common Dentex

Saltwater

Common Dentex

Dentex dentex · Dentex, Dentón, Denti

Water temp
61–73°F
Peak season
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Best light
Dawn · Dusk
IGFA record
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Common Dentex (Dentón común (Dentex dentex), Cabo de Palos, España, 2022-07-15, DD 59.jpg)

Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Common dentex are robust, deep-bodied seabreams with a steel-blue back flecked with dark spots, a steep forehead that becomes a hump in old males, and canine teeth that mark them as a fish eater. They range the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay to Senegal, holding over rocky bottoms, drop-offs and seagrass edges from 30 to 650 ft (10–200 m). Dentex hunt cephalopods, small fish and crustaceans, mostly at dawn and dusk, often alone or in small groups. They grow past 30 lb (14 kg), are difficult to fool and taste superb, which makes them the top trophy for Mediterranean boat anglers from Spain to Croatia.

Typical size3–10 lb (1.5–4.5 kg); 18–28 in
Trophy20 lb+ (9 kg+)
Table fareExcellent — among the finest-eating fish in the Mediterranean

Where & when

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Fished year-round in the Mediterranean, with peaks in spring (April–May, pre-spawn) and autumn (September–November) when big fish move onto shallower reefs; midsummer fish go deeper.

Cabo de Gata, SpainAlmería drop-offs; classic dentex groundKornati Islands, CroatiaAdriatic reefs and wallsBonifacio Strait, FranceCorsica–Sardinia reefs with large dentex

How to catch

Slow trolling live baitTroll a live squid, mackerel or small bogue at 1–2 knots on a downrigger or heavy sinker so it runs just above rocky bottom along drop-offs. Dentex follow and bite at dawn; give slack on the take, then set firmly.
Slow-pitch and inchiku jiggingDrop a 100–200 g slow-pitch jig or inchiku to the bottom over reef edges and work it with slow lifts, falls and pauses in the bottom 30 ft (10 m). Strikes are heavy thumps; use a fluorocarbon leader of at least 40 lb against the rocks and teeth.

Gear

Rod6'–6'6" slow-pitch jigging rod or 20–30 lb class boat rod
Reel4000–6000 spinning or compact overhead
Line30–40 lb braid; 40–60 lb fluorocarbon leader

Lures

Slow-pitch jigInchiku or kabura jigDeep-diving minnow for trolling

Baits

Live squidLive mackerel or bogueWhole cuttlefish

Regulations

Mediterranean countries require a recreational sea-fishing licence and set minimum sizes and daily catch limits, often by total weight; Spain and Croatia both list dentex with a minimum size. Rules differ by country and region.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

How do you catch a big dentex?

Fish at first light over rocky drop-offs in 100–300 ft (30–90 m) with a live squid or mackerel slow-trolled or drifted just off the bottom, or work a slow-pitch jig in the same zone. Big dentex are solitary, cautious and bite in short windows, so quiet boat handling, fluorocarbon leaders and persistence matter more than any single lure.

Bite forecast — Common Dentex

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Common Dentex.

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