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How to catch Axillary seabream

Pagellus acarne (Risso, 1827)

About Axillary seabream fishing

The axillary seabream is a marine teleost fish belonging to the family Sparidae, featuring a moderately compressed, fusiform body with a greyish pink tone, paler underneath, and a distinct dark spot located right at the base of the pectoral fin. Growing typically to around twenty-five centimetres, this oceanodromous benthopelagic species inhabits coastal waters down to substantial depths, favouring sandy substrates, mixed bottoms, and seagrass meadows where it feeds omnivorously on benthic invertebrates including worms, molluscs, and small crustaceans. It forms active shoals across the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, supporting both commercial fisheries and coastal angling interest for its fine sporting and culinary qualities.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    25 cm SL

  • Market value

    Medium

  • Habitat

    Saltwater

  • Season

    Spring, Summer, Autumn

  • Also known as

    Auxillary seabream, Axillary bream, Axillary sea-bream, Spanish bream, Spanish seabream

Axillary seabream

Forked caudal shape

Deeply forked tail fin shape typical of active swimming seabreams.

Abdominal pelvic fins

Pelvic fins positioned well back on the belly beneath the pectoral base.

Pectoral fin base spot

Distinct black spot at the pectoral fin base diagnostic of this species.

Axillary seabream fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    25 cm SL (max 36 cm SL )

  • Typical weight

    0.2 kg (max 0.6 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    12–18.4 °C

  • Depth

    0–500 m

  • Longevity

    9 years

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    36.6

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Active

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Peak

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Active

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Peak

  • Night

    After dark

    Low

When to fish for Axillary seabream

01
January
02
February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
11
November
12
December

How to catch Axillary seabream

Tips for catching Axillary seabream

Targeting this coastal sparid relies on presenting small natural baits tight to sandy grounds, mixed rubble, or near the edges of seagrass beds where shoals forage actively during daylight hours. A light ledger or paternoster rig equipped with fine long-shank hooks baited with small ragworms, strips of squid, or pieces of fresh shrimp works exceptionally well to tempt their cautious bites. Fishing is most productive from boat or deep shore marks during calm conditions when rising tides bring active fish onto the shallower shelves. Early morning and late afternoon hours offer the most consistent sport, while matching tackle down to sensitive tips ensures good detection of subtle nibbles.

Other names for Axillary seabream

Local and alternate names anglers use for Axillary seabream.

  • Axillary seabream
  • Spanish seabream
  • Spanish bream
  • Axillary sea-bream
  • Axillary bream
  • Auxillary seabream

Best equipment to catch Axillary seabream

Compare fishing methods for Axillary seabream — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 0.2 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Axillary seabream

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

How Axillary seabream 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.

How Axillary seabream migrates — Oceanodromous 1. Eggs: Laid on the spawning grounds. 2. Larvae: Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds. 3. Juveniles: Grow up in sheltered nursery waters. 4. Adults: Range widely over the feeding grounds. 5. Spawners: Return to the spawning grounds each season.
Spawning grounds Nursery grounds Feeding grounds

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 Axillary seabream

  • Diet

    Carnivore

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Morning · Dusk

  • Feeds over

    Soft bottom · Seagrass

  • Main prey

    Baitfish

Prey and predators of Axillary seabream

Prey is what Axillary seabream eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.

Prey

What it eats

Predators

What hunts it

Fish

  • Seriola dumerili juv./adults
  • Synodus saurus juv./adults
  • Conger conger juv./adults
  • Epinephelus marginatus juv./adults
  • Galeorhinus galeus juv./adults
  • Sphyraena viridensis juv./adults

Where Axillary seabream lives

Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.

Habitats
Saltwater
Depth zone
Sublittoral, Bathyal
0–500 m
Usually 40–100 m
Water column
Benthopelagic
Just above the bed

Where this species lives

Where to fish for Axillary seabream

Mapped fishing spots where Axillary seabream is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Cala de Ganduf

Illes BalearsIlles BalearsSpain

Puerto del Musel

Asturias / AsturiesAsturias / AsturiesSpain

Rio Mira

OdemiraBejaPortugal

Corgo da Alagoa

OdemiraBejaPortugal