The fish of the Columbretes Islands: the brotola
The seabeds of the Columbretes Islands are very rich in fauna. Hundreds of species coexist in the caves and hollows under the sea and it is an authentic delight to submerge and let yourself be carried away by these highways of the underwater fauna. One of the fish that usually lives in the area and can be easily seen in the rocky bottom la brótola.
It is a fish native to the western Mediterranean Sea, so it is very common in the Columbretes Islands. It has a maximum size of 65 centimeters, although most of the copies measure about 50 cm in length. In his body the chestnut is mostly red.
The brotola lives in waters of the Mediterranean and in the Columbretes Islands it can be easily seen
On the coasts of the Columbretes Islands there are many cavities and crevices, where several species of fish take refuge and use them to hunt. The brótola is a fish of nocturnal customs, so during the day, when sunlight reaches its territory, it remains hidden. When the night comes, he leaves his refuge and comes out with small fish and small invertebrates that also have nocturnal activity.
Although it is a fish that may be present in Mediterranean gastronomy, its fishing is quite scarce. This is because it is a species that moves alone, so there are no large banks of brotola and its fishing is complicated. This is another reason why it is very satisfying to dive in the Columbretes Islands, since by doing so you can know species that are not easy to see in other parts of the Mediterranean, so close at hand.
In the different excursions that are made to the Columbretes Islands from the ports of Castellón, Oropesa del Mar, Alcocebre or Peñíscola it is possible to make two dives and check in person the richness of the seabed of these islands.