Pacific Pomfret – Brama japonica – or a Rays Bream – Brama brama

Pacific Pomfret or Rays Bream caught off Kaikoura

Please note, we cannot definitively say whether this fish is a Pacific Pomfret Brama japonica, or a Rays Bream Brama brama (also known as Atlantic pomfret). If you know for certain please let us know in the comments below.

It was caught by Alexis Evlampieff fishing off Kaikoura in about 90 metres of water on 3 February 2007. It weighed 2.3kg.

According to Alexis’s brother, Mauricio, who was kind enough to send in the pictures, the unusual fish did not go for the bait (squid) but for the sinker instead while it was travelling down. The sinker came out its gills and the hooks followed, felt the bite, stopped and started reeling. It put up a decent fight. It had no worms and it was delicious.

This fish appears to be a Pacific Pomfret – Brama japonica. It was caught by Alexis Evlampieff fishing off Kaikoura in about 90 metres of water on 3 February 2007. It weighed 2.3kg.

According to Alexis’s brother, Mauricio, who was kind enough to send in the pictures, the unusual fish did not go for the bait (squid) but for the sinker instead while it was travelling down. The sinker came out its gills and the hooks followed, felt the bite, stopped and started reeling. It put up a decent fight. It had no worms and it was delicious.

Many thanks to Mauricio Evlampieff for sending us the pictures. We appreciate that very much. Many experienced anglers fish at sea all their lives without ever even seeing a Pacific Pomfret or Rays Bream!