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How to catch Painted comber

Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758)

About Painted comber fishing

The painted comber is a small marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Serranidae, easily recognised by its fusiform body, large protractile mouth, and vibrant coloration featuring dark vertical bars and intricate blue lines across the head. Typically reaching twenty five centimetres in length, this demersal species inhabits shallow coastal waters down to one hundred and fifty metres, favouring complex structured grounds such as rocky reefs and seagrass meadows. Operating as a territorial ambush predator, it feeds primarily on benthic crustaceans, small mollusks, and small fish, often shadowing octopuses to scavenge leftovers. It is a synchronous hermaphrodite that spawns during the warmer spring and summer months. While rarely targeted by large commercial fisheries, it is a popular quarry for recreational rockfishers and shore anglers across the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    25 cm SL

  • Market value

    Medium

  • Habitat

    Saltwater

  • Season

    Spring, Summer, Autumn

  • Also known as

    Pointed comber

Painted comber

Blue Belly Patch

Large bright blue blotch on the lower flank is highly diagnostic.

Head Scribbles

Intricate blue and orange worm-like lines cover the head and cheek.

Vertical Bars

Dark vertical bands along the body distinguish this comber species.

Painted comber fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    25 cm SL (max 36 cm SL )

  • Typical weight

    0.2 kg (max 0.5 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    15.1–21 °C

  • Depth

    5–150 m

  • Longevity

    16 years

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    44

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Low

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Peak

  • Midday

    High sun

    Active

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Peak

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Active

  • Night

    After dark

    Low

When to fish for Painted comber

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 Painted comber

Tips for catching Painted comber

Succeeding with this coastal resident relies on targeting shallow rocky structures and seagrass beds where the species defends its home range during daylight hours. Bottom fishing with a paternoster rig baited with small pieces of squid, marine worms, or fresh shrimp yields steady results when dropped close to weed lines and rocky crevices. For anglers preferring artificial presentations, light rockfishing with small soft plastic creature baits or worm imitations bounced slowly along the bottom provokes aggressive strikes. Because these fish feed actively throughout the daylight hours in clear coastal waters, using finesse tackle and presentation is essential to tempt bites from specimens lingering near underwater cover.

Other names for Painted comber

Local and alternate names anglers use for Painted comber.

  • Painted comber
  • Pointed comber

Best equipment to catch Painted comber

Compare fishing methods for Painted comber — 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 Painted comber

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

Where Painted comber spends the year — Non-migratory

Stays in the same waters year-round. Look for it on the same grounds rather than timing a run.

Where Painted comber spends the year — Non-migratory 1. Eggs: Laid on the home grounds. 2. Juveniles: Grow up close by. 3. Adults: Keep to a small home range. 4. Spawners: Spawn on the same grounds, with only short moves.
Same water all year

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 Painted comber

  • Diet

    Carnivore

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Morning · Afternoon

  • Feeds over

    Hard bottom · Seagrass

  • Main prey

    Baitfish

Prey and predators of Painted comber

Prey is what Painted comber 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

  • Scorpaena scrofa juv./adults

Where Painted comber lives

Lives on or just above the bottom. Work jigs, bait, and lures along the seabed.

Habitats
Saltwater
Depth zone
Sublittoral
Continental shelf · 5–150 m
Water column
Demersal
On or near the bed

Where this species lives

Where to fish for Painted comber

Mapped fishing spots where Painted comber is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Cala de Santa Ponça

Illes BalearsIlles BalearsSpain

Cala Vall de Bòquer

Illes BalearsIlles BalearsSpain

Cala Llonga

Illes BalearsIlles BalearsSpain

Puerto de Mahón

Illes BalearsIlles BalearsSpain

Cala Trebeluja

Illes BalearsIlles BalearsSpain

Porto Pi

Illes BalearsIlles BalearsSpain

Gjiri i Sarandës

SarandëShqipëriaAlbania

Gjiri i Spilesë

HimarëShqipëriaAlbania

Skele e Liamanës

HimarëShqipëriaAlbania

Luka Grebaštica

ŠibenikŠibensko-kninska županijaCroatia