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Sea fish

Blacktail comber

Serranus atricauda

Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.

Other names: Cabrilla negra

Blacktail comber
(c) Charlotte Kirchner, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Habitat
Rock · reef

Choose your region

Spain · Atlantic Ocean

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Blacktail comber caught?

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Atlantic Ocean

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov

Season information is no guarantee of a catch.

Best times of day

When in the day it bites best, month by month.

  • Active by day
  • Poor at night

In November

  1. Dawn Best 85

    0.5 h before sunrise → 3 h after

  2. Midday 60

    1 h before midday → 1.5 h after

  3. Dusk 85

    2.5 h before sunset → 0.5 h after

Not productive at night

Moon phase

Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.

  1. New moon 15
  2. First quarter 15
  3. Full moon 20
  4. Last quarter 15

Best phase: No clear effect

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 60 60 85 85 85 90 90 90 85 85 85 60
Midday 80 80 60 60 60 60 60 60 80
Dusk 65 65 80 80 80 85 85 85 85 85 85 65
Night

Windows follow sunrise and sunset; clock times change with place and date. Scores are relative within the month: 100 is the best window of the day.

6 sources · confidence low

Habitat

Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.

Depth

3–150 m

mostly 10–50 m

Water temperature

16.6–23.2 °C

ideal 18.7–21.5 °C

Salinity

Full-strength seawater

35.3–37.9 ‰

Shore types

  • Rocky shore
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Headland
  • Cliff / steep shore
  • Reclaimed shore
  • Shoal / reef

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Rock

Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.

Confidence: shore type medium, temperature medium

Bait and tackle suggestions

Recorded baits and fishing techniques.

Bait by month

Baits documented for shore fishing, month by month and by water clarity.

In November

By water clarity

Inshore / reef predator — Semi-pelagic; ambushes and chases. Good eyesight and a strong lateral line; takes both kinds of bait.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or a live small fish; thin leader; dawn, dusk and night first. First lure: Soft shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Natural-coloured soft shad/minnow, LRF, slim hard lure; slow and natural. Colour: Natural brown, Silver, Clear
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, fresh sardine pieces. First lure: Soft shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow, jighead + shad, stickbait. Colour: White, Silver, Blue-green back
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, or a piece of oily fish; one size bigger. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Paddle-tail shad, vibe, spinner; vibration first. Colour: White, Fluorescent, Gold
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, crab, cut bait; on the bottom or at mid-depth; chum. First lure: Soft shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Rattling vibe, scented soft plastic; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Dark silhouette, Red, Fluorescent
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: The strongest scent: fish guts, cut mackerel or sardine, mussel; big pieces. First lure: Soft shrimp · Not recommended Usually in this water: Not recommended; if you must, scented and rattling. Colour: Dark silhouette
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
February
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
March
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
April
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
May
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
June
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
July
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
August
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
September
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
October
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
November
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig
December
Natural baits: Shrimp, Mussel, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig

This is the usual pattern; the water and weather on the day can change it. Colour is fine-tuning: bait type, size and action come first. Confidence: natural low, lures low. Colour and presentation guide

Fishing rules

The regulation holds no separate minimum size or closed season entry for this species. The provisions for Türkiye as a whole apply.

Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.

Species profile

Blacktail comber
Scientific name
Serranus atricauda
Water type
Saltwater
Other names
Cabrilla negra

Frequently asked questions

Which seas is Blacktail comber found in?

In our records Blacktail comber appears in these seas: Atlantic Ocean — Spain.

In which months is Blacktail comber at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Atlantic Ocean — Spain April, May, June, October, November.

Similar species

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Open fishing grounds on the map

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