Gilthead bream is mainly a Mediterranean fish, so one turning up in British waters is a talking point. A West Sussex report in October 2025 says gilt head bream were becoming more widespread, with the Marina giving most catches. British boat record: confirmed.
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About the gilthead bream
Gilthead bream is mainly a Mediterranean fish, so one turning up in British waters is a talking point. It is a bluish-green bream with a large black mark on the gill cover and a black tail. It can reach about 3ft and over 10lb, although half that size is considered large.
It lives in shallow inshore water, with mature fish down to about 100m. In the UK, only the south and south-west produce it in numbers. It is a bottom feeder, taking crustaceans and shellfish.
Sussex has seen it too. A West Sussex fishing report from July 2025 says gilt head bream were appearing, and an October 2025 report says they were becoming more widespread, with the Marina giving most catches.
Our sources give no month-by-month season for Britain and no methods for catching it, so those are left out here rather than guessed. The British boat record is a fish of 10lb 2oz from Salcombe Estuary in Devon, which shows what a really good one looks like. To see what is showing locally before you book a trip, read the latest local fishing reports.
On the boat
Our sources give no British season or method for gilthead bream, so none is claimed here. What they do say is that it is a bottom feeder on crustaceans and shellfish. Local shore reports list it in July and October 2025, with the Marina giving most catches. Check the latest local reports before you plan a trip around it.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 10lb 2oz (4.592kg)
- Where
- Salcombe Estuary, Devon
- When
- 2015
- Angler
- Roger Simcox
Confirmed British boat-caught record: 10lb 2oz (4.592kg), caught by Roger Simcox in Salcombe Estuary, Devon, in 2015. It is listed by the British Record Fish Committee. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and newer boat claims are by length only. For gilthead bream the qualifying length is 65cm.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
The source gives no UK minimum size for gilthead bream, so none is stated here. Do not assume there is no limit. Ask before you keep a fish and check the local byelaws. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
Gilthead bream is mainly a Mediterranean fish, yet a West Sussex report from October 2025 says it was becoming more widespread locally, with the Marina giving most catches.
Questions about the gilthead bream
What is the British boat-caught record for gilthead bream?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: 10lb 2oz (4.592kg), caught by Roger Simcox in Salcombe Estuary, Devon, in 2015. It is listed by the British Record Fish Committee. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and newer boat claims are by length only. For gilthead bream the qualifying length is 65cm.
Is gilthead bream caught off the Sussex coast?
Yes. A West Sussex report in October 2025 says gilt head bream were becoming more widespread, with the Marina giving most catches.
When is the best time to catch gilthead bream?
Off Sussex: Local shore reports list gilt head bream in July and October 2025.
How big does a gilthead bream get?
Can reach about 3ft and over 10lb, though half that size is considered large.
Sources
- British Sea Fishing: Bream species: britishseafishing.co.uk
- Prime Angling: West Sussex report 27 Jul 2025: primeangling.co.uk
- Prime Angling: West Sussex report 5 Oct 2025: primeangling.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.
