The annular sea bream (Diplodus annularis) is a species of seabream belonging to the family Sparidae.
Description
Diplodus annularis can reach a length of about , but usually it is approximately 13 cm long. The body is generally grey-silver and yellowish, with a dark band on the caudal peduncle.
Distribution and habitat
This species is widespread in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Black and Azov Seas and in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Madeira, Canary Islands, also off the coast of Portugal, north to the Bay of Biscay.
It inhabits rocky, sandy bottoms and seagrass beds. On sandy bottoms, it can be often found following species that dig the sand and trying to steal their food.
Fishing
It is often caught in various nets, fish traps and light longlines. Locally, it is very important catch for artisanal fishermen and can be often found fresh in local fish markets.
In sport fishing, it is often caught from shore or from boat on rod and real or handline and in shallow waters often on rigs with floats. It is not very picky about its bait and will grab hooks baited with small chunks of fish, various worms, small prawns, mussels, various pastes, bread, cheese and similar. Sometimes it can be caught while trolling from shore on European seabass or common dentex using live prawns as bait.
Larger specimens are often caught with a speargun.