Cardinal Seabream

Found over a wide range of bottom types from the surface to 100 m, but is more common close to reefs or on rough bottoms. Small individuals are very common at some localities in shallow, sheltered bays; larger fish often occur in deeper water (Ref. 559).

Found over a wide range of bottom types from the surface to 100 m, but is more common close to reefs or on rough bottoms. Small individuals are very common at some localities in shallow, sheltered bays; larger fish often occur in deeper water. Important food fish.

fisheries: commercial

分布於西太平洋區，由東海至菲律賓。台灣分布於北部、東北部及西部海域。

全年皆有產，可利用底拖網、延繩釣等漁法捕獲，肉質細緻，屬高經濟價值魚種，適合碳烤、油煎、清蒸等，味道均極為爽口。

體卵圓形，側扁，背緣隆起，腹緣圓鈍。頭中大，前端甚鈍。吻鈍。口略小，端位；上頜前端具圓錐齒2對，兩側具臼齒2列，下頜齒約同於上頜齒；鋤骨、腭骨及舌面皆無齒。體被薄櫛鱗，背鰭及臀鰭基部均具鱗鞘，基底被鱗；側線完整，側線至硬棘背鰭基底之間有5.5-6.5列鱗。背鰭單一，硬棘部及軟條部間無明顯缺刻，硬棘數XII，第I、II棘不特別小，第III及IV多少延長呈絲狀，第IV棘的長度約略大於第V棘的3倍；臀鰭小，與背鰭鰭條部同形，第II及第III棘約等長，軟條數9；胸鰭長，長於腹鰭；尾鰭叉形。體呈鮮紅色而帶銀色光澤，魚體新鮮時，在體側有數列縱向且顯著的鈷藍色點狀線紋。

主要棲息於大陸棚水域，深度可達100公尺，喜沙泥底質，在礁區外圍更多，肉食性，以小魚、小蝦或軟體動物為主食。會隨著季節的改變遷移洄游，通常大魚在較深海域。