Couch's bream is a red or pink bream that fades to a silver belly, with a slightly elongated body. Our sources do not record it off the Sussex coast. British boat record: confirmed.
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About the Couch's bream
Couch's bream is a red or pink bream that fades to a silver belly, with a slightly elongated body. It can reach about three feet and around fifteen pounds. It is found widely, including the Mediterranean, African coasts and the Americas. Our source gives no UK depth or ground details, so nothing is claimed here about where in British waters it lives.
The British record list includes boat catches. The weight-based boat record, 9lb 5oz 3dr, came from off the west coast of Guernsey in 2011, and the current length-based record is a 59cm fish from off Dartmouth, Devon, in 2025.
Couch's bream is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, which is a good reason to handle any fish gently and to know the rules before you go.
The sources give no months, no methods and no Sussex reports for this species, so those gaps are left open. It is not a fish to plan a trip around, but it is a good one to know about, and a good reason to take care with anything unusual that comes over the side.
On the boat
The sources do not say when or how Couch's bream is caught in British waters, and they give no Sussex reports, so none of that is claimed here. The British record list includes boat catches off Guernsey in 2011 and off Dartmouth, Devon, in 2025. Nothing in the sources covers depth, ground or bait for it, so any plan to target it would be guesswork.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 9lb 5oz 3dr (4.229kg), weight-based; length-based 59cm
- Where
- Weight: off Guernsey west coast (boat Susanne). Length: off Dartmouth, Devon, own boat
- When
- Weight 2011. Length 2025
- Angler
- Richard Le Prevost (weight). Peter Kibel (length)
Confirmed British boat-caught record: two entries on the British Record Fish Committee list. The weight-based record is 9lb 5oz 3dr (4.229kg), caught by Richard Le Prevost off the west coast of Guernsey (boat Susanne) in 2011. The weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024. The current length-based record is 59cm, caught by Peter Kibel off Dartmouth, Devon, in 2025.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
Couch's bream is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. The source gives no UK minimum size. If you catch one, handling it gently and returning it is the sensible course. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
Couch's bream is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, and the current British length-based boat record, a 59cm fish, was caught off Dartmouth, Devon, as recently as 2025.
Questions about the Couch's bream
What is the British boat-caught record for Couch's bream?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: two entries on the British Record Fish Committee list. The weight-based record is 9lb 5oz 3dr (4.229kg), caught by Richard Le Prevost off the west coast of Guernsey (boat Susanne) in 2011. The weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024. The current length-based record is 59cm, caught by Peter Kibel off Dartmouth, Devon, in 2025.
Is Couch's bream caught off the Sussex coast?
Not according to the sources behind this guide.
When is the best time to catch Couch's bream?
Our sources do not give months for the Couch's bream, for Sussex or for the rest of Britain.
How big does a Couch's bream get?
Can reach three feet and around fifteen pounds.
Sources
- British Sea Fishing: Bream species: britishseafishing.co.uk
- BRFC sea fish listings June 2026: anglingtrust.net
Picture: Julien Renoult, file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
