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1. Local name: Channad

Known as: Narrow breed Spanish mackerel

Grows to a maximum length 235cm.

General Features: has a long compressed body from both sides covered with tiny scales which are almost invisible, giving the fish a slicked blue gray colour from the top along with silver specks and several irregular bars on the sides.

Their Habitat: Commonly found near the shoreline or the beach areas east of Hayr Shutaya and Hayr Almayana and Hayr

Abulthameh and Hayr Abo-Alkharab and buoy’s, located south of Bahrain

Diet: Prey on other fish, especially Pelagic fish.

Breeding Season: between spring and summer season – March to August.

Fishing Equipment: Gill nets - Hook and line.

Usual Catch Weight: Alkhbat 0.5- 1.5km and kingfish 2-6kg.

Peak Fishing: January to March; October to December.

Landing Site: Muharraq area – Western region- Northern region.

Economic Value: High.

2. Local name: Hagool

Known as: Hound needlefish

Grows to a maximum length 125cm.

General Features: its long body is covered with scales and a circular dark green colour on its upper parts, while its bottom parts are silvery and dark blue lines appear on its sides.

Their Habitat: Appears in shallow or surface waters such as those of Hayr Almayana area Alragay and Hayr Shutaya, Fasht Jarim (Gulaia), Jaww Sea and the Sea of Askar and Budaiya

Diet: Small pelagic fish and shrimp.

Breeding Season: February to May.

Fishing Squipment: Algargoor- Gill netsHook and line- Alhadra.

Usual catch weight: 0.5- 3km

Peak fishing: Year-round.

Landing site: All around Bahrain.

Economic value: Medium.

3. Local name: Sils

Known as: Spotted halfbeak

Grows to a maximum length 25cm.

General Features: Long and somewhat compressed body; with its lower jaw extended to resemble a long beak, silver and green colour appear on the top portion of its body, with white and silver on its sides.

Their Habitat: Pelagic fish near the shorelines of areas such as Fasht Jarim (Gulaia), Jaww Sea and the Sea of Askar and Budaiya.

Diet: Micronutrients, small fishes, floating green algae, crustaceans and fish larvae.

Breeding season: February to May.

Fishing equipment: Gill nets - Alhadra.

Usual catch weight: 150-200gm.

Peak fishing period: May to December.

Landing site: All around Bahrain.

Economic value: Medium.

4. Local name: Jidd

Known as: Barracudas

Grows to a maximum length 80-150cm.

General Features: has a long body and a large mouth; and its overall colour is silvery gray whilst its body is covered with small scales.

Their habitat: Pelagic fish around coral reefs in the east of Bahrain such as Shutaya and Hayr Almayana and Hayr

Abualthamh and around Buoy’s, as well as north of the country.

Diet: Fish and Molluscs.

Breeding season: March to August.

Fishing equipment: Gargoors - Gill netsHook and line - Alhadra.

Usual catch weight: 150-300gm/ Alduwailmi 0.4-2kg / Aljidd 3-5kg

Peak fishing: January to March; November to December.

Landing site: Most areas of Bahrain.

Economic Value: High.

Known as: Green tiger prawn

Grows to a maximum length 20cm.

General Features: Shrimps have a distinctive shape – they have elongated bodies which are typically divided into two major sections, namely the head and the thorax which are fused together forming the cephalothorax. Its second body section is a segmented abdomen. The female species are usually larger than the Male, it is easy to distinguish the male from the female.

Their Habitat: Shrimps thrive in shallow waters and muddy as well as mangrove areas. They are usually found in sites such as Um Aldood Buoy and Um Jadom Area.

Diet: algae and invertebrate organisms and plants; small crustaceans and other bacteria that reside in mangroves in shallow water.

Breeding Season: December to March.

Usual Catch Weight : 20-100gm.

Peak Fishing Period: April to August.

Landing Site: Muharraq area, north of Bahrain - Bahrain’s western region.

Economic Value: High.

6. Local name: Sikin

Known as: Cobia

Grows to a maximum length 200cm.

General Features: Its body elongated and its head is semi-cylindrical and broad; its thick skin is characterised black and brown spots on its head and sides, while its abdominal area is yellowish in colour, with two long lines of silvery white on the sides.

Their Habitat: Pelagic fish near coral reefs and rocky shores, and prefers to live in clear waters found in Hayr Almayana, Fasht Alragay and Hayr Shutaya.

Diet: Pelagic fish, crabs, shrimps and Molluscs.

Breeding Season: December to March.

Fishing Equipment: Gargoors - Gill netsHook and line - Alhadra.

Usual Catch Weight: 2 to 15kg.

Peak fishing: Year-round.

Landing site:Muharraq area - the area east of Bahrain.

Economic Value: High.

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