Fish

Saddled seabream

Oblada

Oblada melanura

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

6–10 in.

Depth

Surface to 100 ft.

Best time

Dawn, dusk and night.

Found in

6 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A silver, oval bream with big eyes, faint lengthwise lines and a large black saddle ringed in white on the tail stalk.
Typical size: 6–10 in.
Maximum size: About 14 in and up to about 1½ lb.
Diet: Plankton, small shrimp, worms and algae.
Behavior: Swims in mid-water schools above rocks and seagrass; very quick and wary, and bites best in choppy water.

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 and Morocco & West Africa. Rocky coasts, breakwaters and seagrass through the Mediterranean and from Portugal to Angola, the Canaries and Madeira.
Habitat: Rocky coasts, breakwaters and seagrass through the Mediterranean and from Portugal to Angola, the Canaries and Madeira.
Depth: Surface to 100 ft.
Fishing depth: Mid-water, 3–15 ft below the surface.
Best season: All year; best in spring and autumn.
Best time: Dawn, dusk and night.
Best tides: Little tide; light swell and foam help.
Best weather / conditions: Choppy water with some foam.

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 Float Hooks Bait

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky coasts, breakwaters and seagrass through the Mediterranean and from Portugal to Angola, the Canaries and Madeira.
Rig up: Bolognese float rod (13–16 ft) or a light spinning rod. 4–6 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Bread, shrimp, sea worms and small pieces of sardine. Lures: Small flies and tiny soft lures.
Fish it: Chum with bread mush and fish a light float with bread or shrimp drifting in the chum.
Time it: Dawn, dusk and night. Little tide; light swell and foam help.

Fishing techniques: Chum with bread mush and fish a light float with bread or shrimp drifting in the chum.
BigJoe's tip: Very fine line and small hooks make the difference with this shy fish.
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: Tasty fried or grilled whole.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Spiny dorsal fin.
Regulations: Minimum sizes apply in some countries; check local rules. 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: Plentiful; keep what you'll eat.

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Sources & photo credits