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FISH GUIDE · Sea

Forkbeard: identification, habitat and fishing guide

Phycis phycis

Forkbeard inhabits dark shelters and searches for food at night. These facts concern Phycis phycis; no deep-water fishing protocol is inferred from those for greater forkbeard.

Catalogue names : Forkbeard. Forms and names may vary between habitats.

Editorial review : · This species guide is not permission to fish. Read the precautions below and check the current rules for your location before targeting a species. Some species or populations are protected.

Geographical distribution

Found in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic south to Cape Verde according to DORIS; the account does not describe occurrence on the Atlantic coast of metropolitan France.

  • Documented presence : Mediterranean Sea
  • Documented presence : Eastern Atlantic

Documented areas, not an exhaustive list. Presence in a region does not imply presence in every water body or permission to fish.

Distribution sources

Identification

A brown body, one chin barbel, two dorsal fins and pelvic fins forming forked filaments characterise Phycis phycis. The first dorsal is rounded; also check the fins to avoid confusion with pouting or greater forkbeard.

Habitat

Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic; rocky bottoms and dark shelters, particularly coralligenous habitats. Do not turn a diving observation into advice on access or capture.

Diet

Crustaceans, worms and small fish, sought mainly at night.

The Canary synthesis specifically names the shrimp Plesionika narval among its prey; this does not establish its use as hook bait.

Behaviour

It shelters in caves, holes and crevices during the day, then becomes mobile at night to feed. This nocturnal activity alone does not validate a fishing position or method.

Indicative biological size

25 cm common total length according to FishBase; this is neither a maximum nor a legal size limit.

Fishing context and precautions

Andrés Javaloy describes Phycis phycis on a wreck near Alicante: rod fishing on the bottom, pieces of fish and squid, followed by landing with a net. This historical Spanish account supports an indicative adaptation without establishing French permission or survival after release.

Diogo and Pereira recorded six Phycis phycis in recreational boat catches off Faial and Pico (2004–2005). The collective demersal method uses natural bait near the bottom with a terminal sinker; this is neither an exclusive sequence nor French permission.

In that study, bottom presentation concerns a mixed-species catch: it does not establish a preferred bait or snood setting for each species.

A distinctive feature

Its larvae are planktonic: they live in the community drifting in open water.

Sources and review

Each reference includes its access date. Overall editorial review: . Local conditions and regulations may change.

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