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Atlantic Pomfret,Brama brama

Introduction: What is referred to locally as 'Raysbream' is in fact the Atlantic Pomfret, Brama brama.  This bream like fish can reach > 3 feet (1 m) and weigh > 12lbs (5 kgs).  It is a shoaling fish caught only in the summer and autumn months.  My thanks to Thorke Østergaard and to Dr Ian Lawler for their assistance. 

Boat tactics: Raysbream are caught around Ireland largely by accident, usually on offshore reefs marks late in the summer and well into the autumn.  They seem to have a particular liking for mackerel strip, squid and worms fished on a long trace on the drift over a mark, offered on hooks from 1/0 to 3/0 in size.  Light boat tackle offers great sport with these bream.  Although they are a shoaling fish, they are rarely encountered in large numbers even off boats on deep sea water marks... why this is the case has never been explained! 

Shore tactics: We have yet to see any Atlantic Pomfret reported as being caught from the shore in Ireland.