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Sciens, croakers, croakers are a large family of fish, including about 56 genera and 250 species. It is worth noting here that some species of this family live in freshwater reservoirs. Freshwater species include about 16 Crockers, most of which are found in South America. All slabs are characterized by a laterally compressed, relatively elongated body; many species have a noticeable hump. The dorsal fin is double, the second (soft) one is longer. The whole body is covered with rounded scales with a serrated outer edge. The mouth is semi-lower, the jaws of the fish are covered with small teeth, but in some species there are canine-shaped or even incisor-shaped. Coloring can be very diverse. A feature of some croakers is their “noisiness”. They have the ability to make sounds. The sizes of some species can reach 2 m in length and more than 20 kg in weight. Fish live in large groups. Croakers feed depending on the species, some are active predators, others prefer benthos (demand animals). Most species are edible. The most active fishery, several species of sciens, is carried out in Southeast Asia. Some freshwater and marine species are “aquacultures”. They are bred in China and Brazil.
Fishing methods
Slab fishing is quite popular with amateur anglers. Suffice it to say that there are 2 types of croakers near the Black Sea coast of Russia: light and dark. They catch slabs on various gear, but one of the most popular is the “donka”. Important features are that in most cases, fishing takes place at fairly large depths (7-10 m), on difficult terrain, and most often, long-distance casts are required. In some cases, “long-cast” float gear is used, in the variant – “drifting gear”. This is due to the fact that croakers can feed near underwater reefs or rocks, and because the fish are very lively and can be large, the use of bottom rigs is complicated. In addition, croakers are caught on spinning rigs and fly fishing, in the surf version of sea fishing. For all types of croaker fishing, the best fishing times are twilight and night.
Catching slabs on the bottom gear
Most anglers prefer to catch croakers from the shore with “long-range” bottom rods. It is believed that the croaker, in most cases, keeps some distance from the coast in the deep water areas of the coastal zone. For bottom gear, various rods with a “running rig” are used, these can be both specialized “surf” rods and various spinning rods. The length and test of the rods should correspond to the chosen tasks and terrain. As with other sea fishing methods, there is no need to use delicate rigs. This is connected both with the fishing conditions and with the ability to catch a fairly large and lively fish, the hauling of which must be forced, because the croaker has a habit, in case of danger, to hide in the rocky terrain. In many cases, fishing can take place at great depths and distances, which means that it becomes necessary to exhaust the line for a long time, which requires certain physical exertion on the part of the fisherman and increased requirements for the strength of tackle and reels, in particular. According to the principle of operation, coils can be both multiplier and inertial-free. Accordingly, the rods are selected depending on the reel system. To choose a fishing spot, you need to consult experienced local anglers or guides. As already mentioned, fishing is best done at night. In this case, it is necessary to use various signaling devices. The bite of the croaker is unexpected and very sharp, so you should not leave the gear unattended. Otherwise, there is a danger that the fish will “leave” in the rocks and so on.
Catching croakers with spinning and fly fishing gear
Currently, surf fishing for spinning and fly fishing is gaining more and more popularity. A feature of croaker fishing is that, due to the habits of the fish, the best time is deep twilight and night. The main part of this fishing is a headlamp. The power of tackle, both in fly fishing and in spinning, depends on the size of the lures, the fishing location and the experience of the angler. In the case of fly fishing, it is worth noting that in addition to the already traditional for Russians, one-handed tackle of various classes, it is possible to use specialized rods for surf fishing, as well as switches.
Baits
In the case of using rigs for fishing on natural rigs, various shrimp or crab meat can serve as the best baits. In this case, it is possible to use pieces of fillet of meat of fish and worms. When gathering for fishing, it is important to know the peculiarities of croaker fishing in a certain place, there are some nuances along the Black Sea coast. When fishing with artificial lures, the use of the entire range is welcome. The croaker usually attacks from ambush, and can attack a fairly large prey, although it is believed that in most cases, it feeds on small fish.
Places of fishing and habitat
As already mentioned, the family of gorbyls, sciens is quite diverse. Most species prefer tropical and subtropical zones of the oceans and continental waters. At the same time, several species flourish (about 11), living in the temperate zone, for example: the Mediterranean and Black Seas. In addition, they are found in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the temperate zone, in winter, croakers go far from the coast, with warming, they return back.
Spawning
Spawning in sciens, croakers can vary greatly in timing and maturation time. It is enough to note that all species are thermophilic. In the fish of the Black Sea region, spawning occurs in portions, in the spring and summer. Eggs and larvae are pelargic. Very quickly, the larvae pass into the fry stage. Juvenile sciens feed on zooplankton.