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How to catch Common warehou

Seriolella brama (Günther, 1860)

About Common warehou fishing

The common warehou, scientifically known as Seriolella brama, is a benthopelagic marine fish belonging to the family Centrolophidae. It features a fusiform and compressed body shape, reaching a maximum recorded length of seventy-six centimetres and a common length of fifty centimetres, with a maximum weight of four kilograms. This species is native to the temperate marine waters and brackish environments of the southern hemisphere, particularly around Australia and New Zealand, inhabiting continental shelf and slope depths from twenty-two to four hundred metres. Adults typically school close to the sea floor during the day while moving into mid-water columns at night, feeding primarily on salps, crustaceans, and small cephalopods. Spawning occurs during the winter and spring months.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    50 cm TL

  • Market value

    High

  • Habitat

    Brackish, Saltwater

  • Season

    Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

  • Also known as

    Black trevally, Blue warehou, Haddock, Sea bream, Snotgall trevally, Snotty

Common warehou

Deep Body Shape

Deep, compressed oval body profile characteristic of warehou species.

Pectoral Fin

Broad pectoral fin positioned low on the silvery-blue flank.

Caudal Peduncle

Strongly compressed narrow caudal peduncle supporting a forked tail.

Common warehou fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    50 cm TL (max 76 cm TL )

  • Typical weight

    0.8 kg (max 4 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    11.8–16.6 °C

  • Depth

    22–400 m

  • Longevity

    15 years

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    55.9

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Peak

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Active

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Low

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Peak

  • Night

    After dark

    Active

When to fish for Common warehou

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 Common warehou

Tips for catching Common warehou

Anglers targeting the common warehou usually focus on bottom fishing or drifting near deep shelf structures and continental slopes where these schooling fish aggregate close to the seabed. Because their natural diet relies heavily on salps, small crustaceans, and squid, presentation near the lower water column using appropriate weighted rigs or small fish-attracting baits is essential. While they spend daylight hours near the bottom, evidence suggests they rise into mid-water during the night, making timing crucial for successful catches. Fishing is productive throughout the year, with peak results often achieved during transitional seasonal months when schooling activity intensifies in deeper coastal zones.

Other names for Common warehou

Local and alternate names anglers use for Common warehou.

  • Common warehou
  • Snotty trevally
  • Snotty
  • Snotgall trevally
  • Sea bream
  • Haddock
  • Blue warehou
  • Black trevally

Best equipment to catch Common warehou

Compare fishing methods for Common warehou — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 0.8 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Common warehou

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

How Common warehou migrates — Inshore–offshore

Shifts between shallow inshore water and deeper offshore grounds with the season.

How Common warehou migrates — Inshore–offshore 1. Warm months: Stay close inshore through the warm months. 2. Cold months: Move offshore into deeper water as it cools.
Inshore Offshore

1 Warm months

Inshore

Stay close inshore through the warm months.

2 Cold months

Offshore

Move offshore into deeper water as it cools.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of Common warehou

  • Diet

    Carnivore

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Dawn · Dusk

  • Main prey

    Baitfish

Prey and predators of Common warehou

Prey is what Common warehou eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

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

Prey

What it eats

Baitfish

  • Iasis zonaria juv./adults
  • Nyctiphanes australis juv./adults
  • Nyctiphanes australis juv./adults
  • Pyrosoma atlanticum juv./adults
  • Soestia zonaria juv./adults

Where Common warehou lives

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

Habitats
Brackish, Saltwater
Depth zone
Sublittoral, Bathyal
22–400 m
Water column
Benthopelagic
Just above the bed

Where this species lives

Where to fish for Common warehou

Mapped fishing spots where Common warehou is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Sawyers Bay

DunedinOtagoNew Zealand