Fish

Brown meagre (corb)

Corvallo (corvina negra)

Sciaena umbra

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–4 lb.

Depth

3–600 ft; mostly under 100 ft.

Best time

Night.

Found in

7 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A dark bronze-brown drum with a high back, golden reflections, a black edge on the pelvic and anal fins with a white front ray, and a big black-edged dorsal fin. Lives in groups in rock caves.
Typical size: 1–4 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and up to about 9 lb.
Diet: Crabs, shrimp, worms and small fish.
Behavior: Shy and nocturnal: hides in caves and rocky crevices by day in small groups and feeds at night. Males drum to attract females.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries), France, Italy & Malta, Greece & the Adriatic, Turkey, Cyprus & the Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea & Caspian and Morocco & West Africa. Rocky reefs, seagrass beds and breakwaters through the Mediterranean and Black Sea and along the Atlantic coast from the Bay of Biscay to Senegal.
Habitat: Rocky reefs, seagrass beds and breakwaters through the Mediterranean and Black Sea and along the Atlantic coast from the Bay of Biscay to Senegal.
Depth: 3–600 ft; mostly under 100 ft.
Fishing depth: On the bottom near caves.
Best season: Summer nights.
Best time: Night.
Best tides: Little tide in the Mediterranean.
Best weather / conditions: Calm nights.

What to tie on and what to throw.

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

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

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky reefs, seagrass beds and breakwaters through the Mediterranean and Black Sea and along the Atlantic coast from the Bay of Biscay to Senegal.
Rig up: Light boat or rock rod with a 3000–4000 reel. 15–20 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Shrimp, crab and worms where fishing is allowed. Lures: Small soft lures at night.
Fish it: Rarely targeted. Usually caught by accident at night on bait near rocks; release it quickly.
Time it: Night. Little tide in the Mediterranean.

Fishing techniques: Rarely targeted. Usually caught by accident at night on bait near rocks; release it quickly.
BigJoe's tip: Best enjoyed with a snorkel and a dive light: groups of corb watching you from a cave are one of the Mediterranean's best sights.
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.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp gill covers and spines.
Regulations: Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. France bans taking corb in the Mediterranean (including Corsica), with the ban renewed for ten years in 2023, and it is protected in marine reserves and by size limits or bans in other countries. Release it. 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: Easy prey for spearfishers because it hides in caves, so its numbers dropped badly. Protect it.

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Sources & photo credits