Seventy-four
The seventy-four seabream is endemic to southern Africa and was once the backbone of KwaZulu-Natal's commercial linefishery — boats out of Durban Harbour were landing over 1,000 tonnes a year in 1910.
Decades of intensive fishing on its spawning aggregations collapsed the population by 1960. A total moratorium in 1998 halted all targeting.
The species is now a Critically Endangered, specially protected fish: catching or selling one is illegal in South Africa.
Scientific Name: Polysteganus undulosus
Also known as Seventy-four, 74, seventy-four seabream
- Pinkish head and belly, silver-yellow flanks with four to six iridescent blue horizontal stripes running along the sides.
- A conspicuous black spot sits above the pectoral fin on each side — the clearest field mark for distinguishing it from other sparids.
- Slow-growing sparid; fish of 2–8 kg are encountered on offshore reefs, with larger individuals representing many years of growth.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Endemic to southern Africa; range runs from around Knysna on the south coast north to southern Mozambique, including the full KwaZulu-Natal coastline.
- Adults live on deep offshore rocky reefs, typically in 50–100 m of water; juveniles occur on shallower inshore reefs.
- Undertakes spawning migrations to specific offshore aggregation sites, most notably the Illovo Banks just south of Amanzimtoti on the KZN coast.
Key Locations
- Illovo Banks (south of Amanzimtoti, KZN) — historically the most significant known spawning aggregation site off the KZN coast.
- KwaZulu-Natal offshore reefs — the core of the species' remaining range and the focus of ongoing recovery monitoring.
- Northern Transkei coast — southern edge of the known spawning migration corridor.
- Knysna to southern Mozambique — the full endemic range, though the species is now rarely encountered across much of its former southern distribution.
Specific Spots
- Deep offshore reef structure in 50–100 m is the core adult habitat — rocky bottom with relief concentrates fish year-round.
- Spawning aggregations form over known offshore reef systems along the KZN and northern Transkei coast; these sites were historically the focus of commercial effort and are now strictly off-limits.
- Juveniles use shallower inshore reefs closer to the KZN coast before moving offshore as they mature.
Seventy-four FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
How do you catch Seventy-four?
Targeting the seventy-four seabream is illegal in South Africa. Historically, commercial and recreational hand-line boats worked deep offshore reefs along the KZN coast, fishing baitfish presentations over structure in 50–100 m during spawning aggregations.
What do Seventy-four eat?
Primarily eats smaller fish, sardines and mullet are key prey, making baitfish presentations the historically effective approach, though targeting this species is now illegal. Will also take squid and crustaceans when available; juveniles feed on small invertebrates before shifting to fish as they grow.
Where do Seventy-four live?
Endemic to southern Africa; range runs from around Knysna on the south coast north to southern Mozambique, including the full KwaZulu-Natal coastline. Adults live on deep offshore rocky reefs, typically in 50–100 m of water; juveniles occur on shallower inshore reefs.
See it in the app
Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Seventy-four.
- 01 · Species map filter
Map every Seventy-four water
Pick Seventy-four and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.
- 02 · Waterbody species
Tap any water. See what lives there.
Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.
- 03 · Angler Intelligence
Ask how to catch Seventy-four
Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.
Stop guessing where Seventy-four are.
Open the map, filter by Seventy-four, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.
- Species map filter
- Angler Intelligence
- Fishing journal
Explore other species
Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.
No species information available.
Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.
onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.