Porgy & Sheepshead
Bream
Abramis brama (for freshwater bream); various species within Sparidae family for saltwater bream
BothCyprinidaeLeast Concern (for Abramis brama); varies by species for saltwater bream
About
Freshwater bream are deep-bodied, laterally compressed fish with a bronze or silvery coloration. They are bottom feeders, using their protrusible mouths to sift through sediment for food. Saltwater bream are typically silver or grey with a more streamlined body shape and are often found near reefs or rocky areas.
- Average size
- 12-20 inches, 2-8 lbs (freshwater bream); varies greatly among saltwater bream species, some reaching several pounds
- Colors
- Bronze, silver, grey (freshwater bream); silver, grey, sometimes with iridescent hues or stripes (saltwater bream)
- Diet
- Invertebrates, mollusks, crustaceans, plant matter, algae (both freshwater and saltwater bream)
- Region
- Freshwater bream are not native to the US; Saltwater bream (various species) are found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts