Saltwater
Reticulated Leatherjacket
Stephanolepis diaspros
Hebrew name: חזיר ים
- Peak season
- Summer and autumn (June-November)
- Length range
- 10–20 cm
- Weight range
- 0.05–0.3 kg
- Typical depth
- 0–100 m
Habitat
Native to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf; one of the first Suez Canal migrants, now established on rocky and seagrass bottoms of the eastern Mediterranean, from the shallows to about 100 m.
Behavior
Slow, curious fish that nibbles worms, small crustaceans, molluscs and algae with a small, strong mouth. A notorious bait thief. The rough skin is peeled off before cooking; the flesh is edible.
Best techniques
- Very small hooks with shrimp or worm
- Light float fishing near rocks and seagrass
- Short-shank hooks to beat the bait-stealing bite
- Bottom fishing from harbour walls
