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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Subtropical

Hottentot seabream

Pachymetopon blochii Valenciennes, 1830
Max Length
46 cm
Max Weight
1.7 kg
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
52.00/100
Typical Length
25 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Inhabits shallow water over rocky bottoms. Feeds on seaweeds, echinoderms, crustaceans, mollusks and worms .

Scientific Name
Pachymetopon blochii
Authority
Valenciennes, 1830
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
46 cm
Max Weight
1.7 kg
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
52.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10. Bronzy brown, lighter below.: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Hottentot seabream is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
22cm TL

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; non-migratory ; depth range 1 - ? m . Subtropical; 13°S - 28°S Southeast Atlantic: Angola to the west coast of South Africa.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
3.4±0.51
Food Items

seaweeds, echinoderms, crustaceans, mollusks and worms (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01514 × L3.05 (TL)
Max TL
46cm
Max Weight
1,700g
Dorsal Spines
10
Dorsal Rays
12
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
10

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2009

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
52.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Valenciennes, 1830

🎣 Angling Guide

Difficulty
Beginner
Fight Rating
strong pulls with head-shakes
Best Seasons
spring,summer,fall
Best Time
incoming tide, dawn and dusk
Line Weight
15-30
Rod Type
medium-heavy spinning
Hook Size
2/0-5/0
Catch & Release
✓ Recommended
Best Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Techniques
bottom fishing popping cork soft plastics live bait
Bait & Lures
live shrimp cut mullet soft plastic paddle-tails popping corks
Recommended Tackle
  • medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
  • 30-50 lb braid
  • fluorocarbon leader
Where to Find Them
  • grass flats
  • oyster bars
  • marsh drains
  • deeper channel edges
Tips & Tricks
Popping cork technique attracts fish from distance. Fish moving tides.
Catch & Release Tips

Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.

Regulations Summary

⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Hottentot seabream is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 19.6 g
Omega-3 (total) 343 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Hottentot seabream has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (lean white fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy90 kcal
Moisture80 %
Protein18 %
Total Fat1.2 %
Ash1.2 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat0.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat0.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat0.4 g
Omega-3 Total0.3 g
EPA0.08 g
DHA0.15 g
Omega-6 Total0.05 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium18 mg
Iron0.4 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus200 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium60 mg
Zinc0.4 mg
Selenium30 µg
Vitamin B60.3 mg
Vitamin B121 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Cantharus blochii Valenciennes 1830 Synonym
Cantharus castelnau Bleeker 1859 Synonym
Cantharus castelnaui Bleeker 1859 Synonym
Caranthus blochii Valenciennes 1830 Synonym
Pachymetopon canescens Norman 1935 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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