Fish
Scotsman Bream
Polysteganus praeorbitalis
A handsome deep-bodied seabream of the Natal and Mozambique reefs, marked by its small eye and steep forehead.
Also known as scotsman
- Habitat
- Reefs, Durban to Beira
- Depth
- Down to about 120 m
The scotsman is a sparid seabream recognised by its small eye, deep preorbital and steep forehead. Juveniles are yellow with two black blotches on the body below the dorsal fin, and it is a strikingly coloured fish as an adult.
It occurs only in southern Africa, mainly between Durban and Beira, down to about 120 m, with occasional strays reaching Algoa Bay; small juveniles turn up along the Cape south coast to near Knysna in around 20 m over rocky outcrops. It spawns in spring, is plentiful at times on Natal reefs, takes almost any bait and is good eating.