How to catch Meagre
Argyrosomus regius (Asso y del Rio, 1801)
About Meagre fishing
The meagre is a large benthopelagic marine fish belonging to the drum family Sciaenidae, characterized by an elongated fusiform body, a pearly-silver finish with bronze back tones, and a distinctive yellow mouth cavity. Growing up to massive proportions, it inhabits brackish and marine coastal waters, estuaries, and shelf zones down to three hundred metres over soft or mixed sand and rock bottoms. Adults are powerful oceanodromous migrants that form schools, entering shallow coastal areas and large river mouths during the warmer months to spawn while actively hunting shoaling fish like mullets and clupeids. Because of its incredible size, strength, and sporting qualities, it is highly valued by European sea anglers.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
150 cm TL
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Market value
Medium
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Habitat
Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Croaker, Jewfish, Salmon bass, Shadefish
Truncate caudal fin
More or less truncate caudal shape helps identify this meagre species.
Dark opercle spot
A distinct dark spot located near the upper opercle edge.
Terminal mouth
Slightly inferior to terminal mouth position typical of sciaenids.
Meagre fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
150 cm TL (max 230 cm TL ) -
Typical weight
15 kg (max 103 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
13.3–19.4 °C -
Depth
15–300 m -
Longevity
42 years -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
79.3
Best hours
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Peak
Dawn
First light
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Active
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Low
Afternoon
Late day
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Peak
Dusk
Last light
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Peak
Night
After dark
When to fish for Meagre
How to catch Meagre
Tips for catching Meagre
Anglers target meagre by focusing on strong current zones, deep estuarine channels, sandy depressions, and around submerged structures where large fish patrol for food. Success relies heavily on presenting natural baits or artificial lures very close to the seabed during periods of heavy tidal movement, particularly around high and low water slack tides. Soft plastic shads worked with a slow, deliberate lift-and-drop retrieve mimic wounded baitfish effectively during drift or vertical presentations. Alternatively, presenting fresh whole sardines, squid strips, or live fish on sturdy bottom rigs from beaches or boat docks yields excellent results when targeting specimen fish during their summer inshore runs.
Other names for Meagre
Local and alternate names anglers use for Meagre.
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Salmon bass
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Shadefish
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Meagre
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Jewfish
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Croaker
Best equipment to catch Meagre
Compare fishing methods for Meagre — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 15 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.
Spinning
Casting and retrieving lures with a spinning rod and reel.
85% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
extra-heavy · 2.18 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
8000 · 15 kg drag
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
36.3 kg · 0.43 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
36.3 kg · 0.847 mm · 150 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Bottom Fishing
Presenting bait or rigs on or near the lake or sea floor.
80% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
extra-heavy · 2.18 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
30000 · 30 kg drag · 1107 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
91 kg · 1.4 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
136.1 kg · 1.885 mm · 180 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
6/0
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Surfcasting
Long-range bait or lure casting from an open beach or surf.
75% Effectiveness
Rod
Surfcasting rod
A surfcasting rod is the long beach fishing rod for punching bait past the breakers. Length and a moderate-fast action load for distance.
Sized for a typical fish
heavy · 4.5 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Moderate-fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
8000 · 15 kg drag
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
36.3 kg · 0.43 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Shock leader
A shock leader is a thick mono or tapered section that takes the cast. Carp shock is heavy (around 0.65 to 0.75 mm), not thin fluorocarbon.
Sized for a typical fish
36 kg · 0.75 mm · 1200 cm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Jigging
Working vertical lures with an active up-and-down motion.
70% Effectiveness
Rod
Jigging rod
A jigging rod is the short, powerful fishing rod for working a metal jig up through the column, including freshwater jigging.
Sized for a typical fish
extra-heavy · 1.83 m
- Reel seat
- Casting
- Form factor
- One-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Jigging reel
A jigging reel is a compact, high-speed conventional for working metal jigs. A short retrieve picks up slack fast.
Sized for a typical fish
15 · 14 kg drag
- Spool
- Revolving
- Mount
- Over
- Drag
- Star
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
36.3 kg · 0.43 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
36.3 kg · 0.847 mm · 150 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Best lures and baits for Meagre
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
01
Sardine
- Bottom Fishing
- Surfcasting
Elongated silvery baitfish body releases strong scent trails.
03
Squid
- Bottom Fishing
- Surfcasting
Elongated muscular body holds internal organs and secretes scent in the water.
05
Live baitfish
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated segmented worm body provides natural movement to attract fish.
06
Metal jig
- Jigging
A long metal lure for speed-jigging the deep column.
How Meagre migrates — Oceanodromous
Migrates within the sea between spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and never enters fresh water. Follow its seasonal shifts along the coast and offshore.
1 Eggs
Spawning grounds
Laid on the spawning grounds.
2 Larvae
→ Nursery grounds
Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds.
3 Juveniles
Nursery grounds
Grow up in sheltered nursery waters.
4 Adults
Feeding grounds
Range widely over the feeding grounds.
5 Spawners
→ Spawning grounds
Return to the spawning grounds each season.
It stays in the sea and never runs up into fresh water.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of Meagre
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Diet
Top predator -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Dawn · Dusk · Night -
Feeds over
Soft bottom · Hard bottom -
Main prey
Baitfish
Prey and predators of Meagre
Prey is what Meagre eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Baitfish
Where Meagre lives
Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.
15–300 m
Estuary
Where this species lives
Meagre photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for Meagre
Mapped fishing spots where Meagre is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
