Bream question

[Pangolin]

How easy is it to distinguish a silver bream from a bronze bream? I caught a bream, a few days ago, that was just over a pound and yet it had completely silver flanks and very black fins. I've caught smaller fish that have been more bronze-coloured... perhaps bream become more silver-coloured in winter? I'm not enough of an expert to know: perhaps somebody else on the board could advise?

[boilies]

as far as i know it all depends on the colour of its flanks and silver bream have a more silvery colour set but bronze bream when at that size have more reddy coloured flanks

 

b's

:confused:

[BreamBoi]

How easy is it to distinguish a silver bream from a bronze bream? I caught a bream, a few days ago, that was just over a pound and yet it had completely silver flanks and very black fins. I've caught smaller fish that have been more bronze-coloured... perhaps bream become more silver-coloured in winter? I'm not enough of an expert to know: perhaps somebody else on the board could advise?

 

hi erm im not oo sure either .. but when i catch the small bream as in 2-3lbs there always silver with very dark fins and i caught a 6lbs the same day and that was a more gold colour then silver ..

 

if you uever find out why there diffrent colours let me know mate cheers

[Renrag39]

Silver has comparatively larger eye and smaller head compared to Common. 44-48 lateral line scales on the silver and 50-60 on the Common.

 

From experience the eye/head size is noticeable but the main tell-tale for me is that the Silvers aren't as slimy. This may only be specific to the Norfolk Broads mind. But even me saying 'from experience' may well be incorrect as I have never counted the lateral line or even considered it, let alone branched anal fin ray counting etc.

 

Basically, its not easy!

 

Renrag

[Anderoo]

Easiest way to tell them apart is that the common bream is very common and the silver bream is very rare - if you fish somewhere that holds genuine silver bream, you'll probably know about it.