How to catch Cardinal fish
Apogon imberbis (Linnaeus, 1758)
About Cardinal fish fishing
Apogon imberbis is a small reef-associated marine fish belonging to the family Apogonidae, easily recognised by its compressed ovate body, large head, and very large eyes that reflect its nocturnal habits. It displays a striking pink to bright red coloration with darker shading on the back and two or three characteristic spots along the base of the caudal fin. Typically reaching a common length around 11 cm alongside a recorded maximum of 15 cm standard length, this species inhabits rocky bottoms, crevices, and marine caves across depths ranging from 2 to 200 metres. It operates primarily as a nocturnal predator, emerging from dark daytime refuges to feed on small invertebrates and fishes over nearby seagrass meadows and rocky structures. The species is non-migratory, distributed widely throughout the Mediterranean and the warm temperate eastern Atlantic, and is notable for practising oral brooding where males incubate the eggs.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
11 cm
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Market value
High
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Habitat
Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Fucinata, King of the mullets, Mediterranean cardinalfish
Caudal spots
Two or three dark spots are visible along the base of the caudal fin.
Terminal mouth
The mouth position is terminal, characteristic of this species.
Cardinal fish fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
11 cm (max 15 cm SL ) -
Typical weight
0.2 kg (max 0 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
13.3–20.9 °C -
Depth
10–200 m -
Longevity
5 years -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
15.1
Best hours
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Active
Dawn
First light
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Low
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Low
Afternoon
Late day
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Active
Dusk
Last light
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Peak
Night
After dark
When to fish for Cardinal fish
How to catch Cardinal fish
Tips for catching Cardinal fish
Targeting this small nocturnal cardinalfish requires working close to rocky structure, artificial reefs, and marine cave entrances where the species shelters during daylight hours. Since they emerge to feed actively after dark, evening and nighttime sessions using light bottom-fishing tackle yield the best results. Presentations should be kept small and natural to match their invertebrate diet, making fine hooks baited with small pieces of shrimp or marine worms highly effective. Anglers generally encounter them incidentally while pursuing other rocky reef species, as their primary local utility remains occasional use as live bait for larger predatory game fish rather than direct sport.
Other names for Cardinal fish
Local and alternate names anglers use for Cardinal fish.
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Cardinal fish
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Mediterranean cardinalfish
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King of the mullets
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Fucinata
Where Cardinal fish spends the year — Non-migratory
Stays in the same waters year-round. Look for it on the same grounds rather than timing a run.
1 Eggs
Same water all year
Laid on the home grounds.
2 Juveniles
Same water all year
Grow up close by.
3 Adults
Same water all year
Keep to a small home range.
4 Spawners
Same water all year
Spawn on the same grounds, with only short moves.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of Cardinal fish
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Diet
Carnivore -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Night -
Feeds over
Soft bottom · Hard bottom · Seagrass · Crevices -
Main prey
Baitfish -
Used as bait
Yes
Prey and predators of Cardinal fish
Prey is what Cardinal fish eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Where Cardinal fish lives
Tied to reefs and rocky structure in shallow coastal water.
10–200 m
Where this species lives
Cardinal fish photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.