Common names
Common seabream
Red porgy
Pagrus pagrus
- Saltwater
- Least concern
Max length35.75 in
Common length13.75 in
Length typeTotal Length
Max weight15 lb 7 oz
Depth range0 - 820 ft
Water typeSaltwater
Water temperature59 - 81 °F
Fish info
IUCN Vulnerability status
Short description
Red porgy are moderately deep-bodied fish with oblong-shaped bodies with rounded noses. Although its fins are composed mostly of rays, it also has spines distributed among them so they can be quite sharp (only the dorsal fin, the rest have a stiffer, feather-like texture). This fish is a silvery-pink colour, with darker patches on the nape and behind the pectoral fins. The caudal fin is dark pink with paler tips, and the other fins are pale pink. The pectoral fins are yellow-orange in colour and are quite long. If folded, the fins can almost touch the dorsal fin. The dorsal fin also stretches far back with the anal fin only being half the length of it. Red porgy also has a deeply forked tailfin that’s dull yellow but with red flecks on it. They have medium-sized mouths and large eyes.
Habitat
They are a demersal species, being found over both rocky areas and areas with soft sediment, juveniles often inhabit beds of seagrass or sometimes enter lagoons.
Distribution
Found in warm coastal waters on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. On the eastern side, their range extends from southern Britain to Western Sahara, including the waters around the Canary Islands and Madeira and the Mediterranean Sea; their range includes the Sea of Marmara but does not extend into the Black Sea. On the western side of the Atlantic, their range extends from the eastern coast of the United States southward to Argentina; they are present in the Gulf of Mexico and the western part of the Caribbean Sea but not the eastern part.
Behaviour
They feed on or near the seabed and most individuals start life as females and later change sex to males. Their diet consists of crustaceans, molluscs and small fish.
Edibility
Excellent, they've got tasty, mild white meat with delicate flakes. A small fish with thin, delicious skin, they're a great fish to bake or steam whole.
Lure suggestion
A typical high/low rig works well in most situations, with snelled hooks tied eight inches apart above the sinker. Others have reported also being successful with fishfinder rigs. When it comes to lures, these fish aren’t very picky and will hit on most anything. Good bait: clams, worms and squid.
Similar species
Other similar species
Other Porgy species (have slit-like rear nostrils)