silver seabream
Diplodus argenteus
The marimbá, the silver seabream of the surf zone on rocky shores, with a black spot at the top of the tail stalk. It fights hard for its size and is the star of rocky-shore fishing with mussel and shrimp.
Also called: marimbá, marimbau, sargo, maria-chinelo, chinelão, pinta-no-cabo
- common size
- 18–28 cm
- maximum
- 38 cm
- common weight
- 0.1–0.5 kg
- record/max.
- 2.5 kg
- depth
- 0–15 m
- ideal water
- 17–24 °C
who is the silver seabream
The marimbá is a seabream, a relative of the sargos and snappers, from the coasts of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. It lives in clean, rough water on exposed rocky shores, almost always in the surf zone, and is common on jetties and islands. Juveniles stay in tide pools among the rocks and, up to about 10 cm, also on sandy beaches and seagrass beds. Omnivorous, it eats algae and small invertebrates it scrapes from the rocks. It rarely exceeds 35 cm. Because it fights hard in the surf and requires a precise cast, it is one of the most sought-after fish in rocky-shore fishing in the Southeast and South.
fun facts
- The front teeth are flattened like incisors and are used to scrape food off the rocks.
- The largest weight cited by FishBase, 2.5 kg, comes from records in Uruguay.
identification
Oval, tall, compressed silvery body with about nine narrow, faint vertical bands on the upper body. Large black saddle-shaped mark at the top of the tail stalk. Small mouth with flat front teeth like incisors. It differs from the sargo-de-dente, much larger and with strong black bands, and from the salema and sargo-de-beiço, which lack the black saddle on the tail.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
where found
Rocky shores, jetties and islands from Espírito Santo to Rio Grande do Sul, including Trindade. Outside Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Records from the Caribbean and Florida are now attributed to Diplodus caudimacula.
Habitat: Exposed rocky shores, surf zone, jetties, islands and shallow ledges; juveniles in tide pools.
coast
states
Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul
when to fish
best season
Caught all year on rocky shores; after surges, with the sea still rough and the water clear, the schools move close to the rocks.
best time of day
Daytime. Feeds by day and becomes more active with a choppy sea and white foam over the rocks; the first hours of the morning usually produce more.
what affects the silver seabream
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
A sharp drop in water temperature leaves the marimbá sluggish for a few days.
atmospheric pressure
Right after the cold front, as the sea calms, is usually the best window.
moon
Little effect.
rain
Heavy rain that muddies the water near the rocks hurts the bite.
water level
Not applicable at sea.
noise
Sensitive: don't stand on the edge of the rock casting shade over the spot.
wind
Moderately rough sea with foam helps; heavy surge makes the rocky shore dangerous.
tide
The rising tide covers the rocks and carries food into the foam.
depth
Close to the rocks, 0.5 to 5 m.
how to fish
- rod
- 3.0 to 4.2 m for rocky shore, 10 to 50 g, sensitive tip
- spinning / baitcasting reel
- spinning reel 3000 to 4000
- line
- monofilament 0.25 to 0.30 mm or braid 15 to 20 lb with a long leader
- leader
- fluorocarbon 0.30 to 0.40 mm
- hook
- small hooks, no. 4 to 1 (small mouth)
natural baits
- mussel
- shrimp
- corrupto
- small crab
- tatuí (sand crab)
accessories
- rock-fishing float
- long-handled landing net
- non-slip footwear
- life vest
tip from an angler
Cast the bait into the foam, next to the rocks, and let the wave work. Set the hook on the first firm pull and get the fish off the rock quickly.
rules for the silver seabream
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the national list (Portaria GM/MMA 1.667/2026) nor in IN MMA 53/2005. We found no specific rule in Brazil, Uruguay or Argentina.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Hardy: remove the hook quickly, without squeezing, and release it in calm water beside the rock, without throwing the fish down from the top of the rocky shore.
in the kitchen
White, tasty flesh with a sea flavor; fried whole, baked or in broth.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0123, b = 3.04; FishBase (estimativa bayesiana do gênero, comprimento total); peso máximo publicado de registro no Uruguai). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
- scientific FishBase — Diplodus argenteus (ficha da espécie)Names, distribution, biology, length-weight relationship, country list and references. Page checked on 13/10/2026. FishBase's country list still includes the Caribbean, an area of Diplodus caudimacula (a valid species in FishBase itself); so this entry considers only Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026 — Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)Most recent national list. The species is not on it (search by scientific name in the text published in the DOU, checked on October 13, 2026).
- official ICMBio/SALVE — Ficha de Diplodus argenteus (avaliação nacional do risco de extinção)National extinction risk assessment by ICMBio, published in 2025. DOI checked on Crossref.
- scientific IUCN Red List — Diplodus argenteus (avaliação global: Pouco Preocupante, LC, 31/03/2011)Global assessment. Link given on the FishBase entry (Red List, version 2025-2).
