Bizerta :: Comparisson reports

“Each year there are thirteen different fish migrations coinciding with the lunar phases. The “Bittoum” and “Spine” (sea bass), which often weigh 10 kg, appear from December 21^st to February 21^st. The “Bouri” (flathead mullet) and “Sarago” show themselves on the first days of spring. The “Sar” can be found on the first days of May and then disappear at the end of that same month. The season for “Marmora” (sea breams) lasts from May 20 ^th to August 20^th. The gilt-head sea breams and “Mlabna” (a type of mullet) can be found from August 20 ^th until the end of October. The “Boga” come during the month of May, but only in small quantities.

Below is a chart detailing the names of the species and when they migrate:

Mabres (a type of sea bream)…April, May and June

Summer mullet ( “Bouri”) .........July, August and September

Sargos (white sea bream)……. August and September

Gilt-head sea breams ……..…. End of October, November and December

Sea bass ………………………December and January

Winter mullet ( “Bittoum”)……November and December

Large mullet ( “Bouri”) ……….January, February and March

Sole, eel, etc. …………………All year

Large captures occur with the gilt-head sea bream and flathead mullet migrations.”

Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria, Bizerte, J. Rothschild, Paris, 1900 (Prague, 1897)