Species

Common bream

A deep-bodied peaceful fish, also called Blei in German, that feeds on the bottom in large shoals and is a typical feeder fishing catch.

Abramis brama

Photo: Nervurax Fishing, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, adjusted to 3:2

How to recognise it

Easily confused with: Often mistaken for the silver bream: in the common bream, the pectoral fins laid flat reach the base of the pelvic fins.

Methods: Feeder fishing, Pole fishing, Float fishing

Baits: Maggots, Sweetcorn, Redworm, Casters

At dusk and at night, especially from late spring to autumn.

Habitat and food

Slow-flowing lower river stretches, canals, harbours and nutrient-rich lakes with a muddy bottom. Lives in shoals close to the bottom.

Roots in the mud for midge larvae (bloodworm), worms, mussels and snails, and also eats plankton and plants.

Size and age

Around 30 to 50 cm at eight years old; in ideal conditions up to 85 cm and over 8 kg. Can live around 16 years (Wikipedia).

Conservation status: German Red List (freshwater fish 2023): not threatened. IUCN: not threatened (Least Concern, 2023).

These rules apply in Germany only. Fishing in the UK, the USA or elsewhere? The local rules apply there (link below).

From the official state fisheries regulations, retrieved 2026-10-11. All rules by state

Check the rules

In Germany, closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each state and can be stricter for single waters. All German rules by state, with the legal source. Outside Germany, the local rules apply: licence and agency by country.

Very bony, so rarely eaten as a fillet; good for fish cakes, pickling or smoking.

Sources (3)

Last checked 2026-10-18. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

Additions, photos of your catches or a mistake in the text: write to us and we will gladly credit you as a helper.