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Seabream
Photo: Sir Francis Day · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
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Seabream

المرجان / أبو إتب

al-Murgan / Abu Atb

Beginner✓ CommonSparidae

Seabream are silver, deep-bodied fish prized by Egyptian anglers as some of the finest-eating fish in the sea — al-Murgan is described on the forums as the most delicate-meated fish in the Red Sea. They feed over sand, rubble and reef edges and respond well to natural bait on the bottom.

Local names · what anglers actually call it

المرجانal-Murgan / Morjan

seabream; also أبو إتب (Abu Atb). Egypt-tagged for King soldierbream (Argyrops spinifer)

source: Tesfamichael & Saeed 2012 (Egypt-tagged)
المرجان / أبو إتبal-Murgan / Abu Atb

anglers describe it as the most delicate-meated fish in the Red Sea

source: saydclub forum

Size

20–70 cm

Depth

2–80 m

Record weight

up to 10 kg

Habitat

Sandy and rocky bottoms, reef edges, harbours

Best seasons

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Fishing techniques

Bottom fishingFloat fishing

Baits & lures

ShrimpSquidCrabWormsFish strips

Did you know?

Many seabream are hermaphrodites — some start life female and turn male (or vice versa) as they grow.