Saltwater
Striped Seabream
Lithognathus mormyrus
Hebrew name: מרמורה
- Peak season
- Spring and Fall (March–May, September–November)
- Length range
- 15–45 cm
- Weight range
- 0.2–2 kg
- Typical depth
- 1–30 m
Minimum size: 11 cm1
Closed to fishing: May 1–June 30, 2026, Mediterranean spawning season2
Measured from the tip of the mouth to the tip of the tail, fish lying flat. Release anything shorter at once.
- 1 Per Fisheries Regulations, 1937, First Addendum, January 7, 2025
- 2 Per Israel Nature and Parks Authority: fishing restrictions in the Mediterranean spawning and recruitment seasons, April 28, 2026
Habitat
Sandy and muddy bottoms near seagrass beds, rocky reefs, and harbour walls. Common at 5–30 m depth across the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic.
Behavior
Bottom feeder that roots through sand and mud for polychaete worms, small crabs, and mollusks. Often found in loose schools near shore. Cautious biter that mouths bait before committing.
Best techniques
- Bottom fishing with ragworm or sandworm
- Surf casting with shrimp bait
- Light ledgering on sandy ground
- Float fishing close to rocks
