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Biology and behavior
The common pike-perch lives mainly near rocky or coralligenous bottoms, with shells, gravel and relief providing shelter and food.âeuros
In the Mediterranean, it can be found from a few metres down to depths of over 100 to 150 m, with a clear preference for breaks and drop-offs between 40 and 90 m and beyond in the cold season.âeuros
It is an opportunistic carnivore that crushes crustaceans, mollusks and small fish thanks to a very powerful jaw.âeuros
Seasonal distribution
From autumn to early spring, the largest specimens hold the deepest pits and drop-offs, often between 70 and 150 m.âeuros
In spring and summer, they migrate to the more coastal plateaus, gravel and rocky areas, at depths more "accessible" to recreational anglers.âeuros
Spawning takes place in spring in the Mediterranean, a period during which the fish can be more vulnerable and deserve greater protection (catch and release, reasonable quota).âeuros
Target areas and positions
- Mixed bottoms: alternating rocks, pebbles, shells, with sandy tongues, often near a drop-off or scree.âeuros
- Rocky plateaus and break edges, especially where the map shows marked changes in depth over a short distance.âeuros
- Ãpaves, dikes and deep coralligenous areas are also very good spots for slow drifting.âeuros
Techniques and fixtures
Vertical or supported fishing gives good results. It consists of a slow drift above the station, with short, low-amplitude strokes (30 to 50 cm) to stay in the bottom layer where the fish fly.âeuros
The tenya, the madaï and the slow jigging allow you to fish with lures leaded at 45° in the current, taking off little from the bottom (2 to 3 m maximum) with gambas, squid or fish strips as natural bait.âeuros
Pagre can also be searched for using natural baits (worms, cephalopods, small dead fish) mounted on strong iron hooks that are adapted to its formidable dentition.âeuros
Regulations and ethics
In France, the minimum catch size for pike-perch is 18 cm, with the obligation to mark the caudal fin on each catch.âeuros It is also recommended to limit sampling, release large spawners and avoid fishing on identified spawning grounds.
