Species › Mediterranean › Gilthead Seabream

Saltwater

Gilthead Seabream

Sparus aurata · Dorada, Daurade, Orata

Water temp
61–75°F
Peak season
May–Sep
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
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Gilthead Seabream (Gilt-head bream.jpg)

Photo: Carmekayak & EsMynt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Gilthead seabream are oval, silver-grey fish with a gold bar between the eyes, a dark blotch at the start of the lateral line and strong molar teeth for crushing shellfish. They are native to the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic from the Canaries to the British Isles, where a warming sea has made them a regular catch in Cornwall, Devon, Wales and southern Ireland. Gilthead feed by day in shallow estuaries, lagoons and sandy bays, rooting out crabs, cockles, mussels and shrimp, and move offshore to spawn in winter. They fight with fast, powerful runs for their size, grow past 10 lb (4.5 kg) and are one of the Mediterranean's finest eating fish.

Typical size1–4 lb (0.5–2 kg); 12–20 in
Trophy8 lb+ (3.6 kg+)
Table fareExcellent — the classic Mediterranean grilled fish

Where & when

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Fish move onto estuary flats from April–May as water warms past 59°F (15°C) and stay through October; the Mediterranean fishes longest, and British fish arrive in May and leave by autumn.

Ebro Delta, SpainMediterranean lagoons and flats for doradaRia Formosa, PortugalAlgarve lagoon system; big giltheadCamel Estuary, United KingdomCornwall; UK gilthead stronghold

How to catch

Light ledgered crab or shellfishFish a peeler crab, hardback or cockle on a size 1–2 strong hook with a 1–2 oz running lead on a sandy or muddy estuary flat on the flooding tide. Set the drag light, because the take is a sudden screaming run as the fish crushes the bait and bolts.
Soft plastics and crab imitationsCast small 2–3 in crab or shrimp soft plastics on 5–10 g jigheads across shallow flats and channel edges, dragging and hopping slowly along the bottom. Sight-fish to tailing or cruising fish in clear water, Mediterranean style.

Gear

Rod9–10' light to medium spinning, 10–30 g
Reel3000–4000 spinning
Line15–20 lb braid; 15–20 lb fluorocarbon leader

Lures

Soft-plastic crab imitationSmall shrimp soft plasticSmall metal jig

Baits

Peeler crabHardback crabCockleMusselRagworm

Regulations

Mediterranean countries require a recreational sea-fishing licence and set minimum sizes and daily limits for gilthead; in the UK there is no licence or bag limit for shore angling, and most anglers release gilthead because the British population is small. Rules vary by country.

Records

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

Frequently asked

What is the best bait for gilthead bream?

Peeler crab is the top bait almost everywhere, followed by hardback crabs, cockles, mussels and ragworm, all fished on the bottom over sand or mud in shallow estuaries on a rising tide. Use strong, sharp hooks because gilthead crush baits with molar-like teeth, and fish a light drag to survive the first run.

Bite forecast — Gilthead Seabream

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Gilthead Seabream.

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