Fish, carp family

Common bream

Abramis bramanative speciesgame speciesTolerates it, but slowed down
Maximum length
82cm
Maximum weight
6,0kg
Best water temperature
14–24 °C
Water today (4.1 °C)
Tolerates it, but slowed down
Fishing districts near where it occurs
43
Pleskáč vysoký (Abramis brama)
Photo: Микова Наталия, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

About the species Common bream

How to recognise it

Tall compressed body, long anal fin and silver to bronze colouring with darker fins.

Where it lives

Lowland rivers and reservoirs, in shoals near deeper stretches.

What it feeds on

Insect larvae, plankton, plants.

Spawning

From April to June in overgrown shallows.

An abundant species. Large shoals can be fed with groundbait and fished on the bottom.

Closed season, minimum size and daily limit

What the Fisheries Act says about common bream. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.

Closed season

§ 10 of the Decree
  • 15 Mar – 31 May

this species may not be fishedoutside this period

It does not depend on the closed season for all fish by water type. You can find this and the other rules on the fishing district page in the Law and fishing rules section.

Minimum size

§ 12 of the Decree

30 cm

below the size limit: return it to the waterfrom the size limit: you may keep it

You must not keep a fish shorter than 30 cm. The total length is measured from the front of the head to the end of the longest ray of the tail fin (§ 12, para. 4). The district user may raise the size; the one in the permit and the fishing regulations applies.

Daily limit

§ 14 of the Decree
  • 5kgOther speciesfor example crucian carp, breams, dace and chub (combined); invasive species are not counted

The limit applies per day, also when fishing in several districts. The district user may set a lower limit in the permit, in which case the stricter one applies.

Summary of Act no. 216/2018 Coll. and Decree no. 381/2018 Coll. (as of 6 Nov 2026). It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters. The permit and the fishing regulations of the district are binding. The fishing law, rule by rule.

Water temperature and requirements

At what temperature the species is active and how well today's water suits it.

Tolerates it, but slowed downTypical water in Slovakia is 4.1 °C today. The species tolerates this temperature (3 to 30 °C), but the water is colder than the ideal 14 to 24 °C. Fish tend to be slower and pickier.

  • tolerates 3 to 30 °C
  • best 14 to 24 °C
  • spawning at 12 to 20 °C
  • typical water today 4.1 °C
Length
up to 82 cm
Weight
up to 6.0 kg
Oxygen
Typical oxygen requirements
Position in the food chain
3,1omnivore and small animals

The values are indicative and come from the FishBase database. In a particular water, fish behave according to the weather, air pressure, oxygen and food.

Where it was recorded

Fishing districts around which a record of this species exists (GBIF).

43 fishing districts in total, 36 shown. Show on map

Similar species

Photo credits

Minimum sizes, protection periods and permitted fishing methods are set by the fishing regulations and the conditions of the specific fishing district. Check them before you fish.