The female D. puntazzo specimen measured 47.6 cm L_T, 42.5 cm L_F, and 39.5 cm L_S in standard length, with a total body weight of 1,452.0 g. Complete morphometric measurements and meristic counts are presented in Table 1. The meristic formula was D X, 14; A III, 12; P 14; V I, 6; C 20.

To date, this is the largest D. puntazzo specimen recorded from the Black Sea (Fig. 2, Table 2). It exceeded the previous maximum L_T reported from Ordu by 2.2 cm and the previous maximum body weight by approximately 265.6 g (Aydın 2019). Macroscopic examination of the visceral cavity showed that the gonads were not prominent at the time of capture.

Macroscopic examination of the stomach contents showed that the specimen had recently fed on macroalgae. The stomach contained the green alga Ulva rigida (C. Agardh) and red algae belonging to Ceramium spp. (Fig. 3). No invertebrate prey items were observed.

The specimen examined in the present study represents the largest D. puntazzo reported to date from the Black Sea (Table 2). Although the increase in TL relative to the previous record reported by Aydın (2019) is moderate (+2.2 cm), the increase in body weight is more substantial (+265.6 g). This individual also exceeds the largest specimen reported in the first detailed morphometric study of D. puntazzo from the Black Sea, in which the largest individual among 75 specimens measured 44.5 cm TL and weighed 1,186.5 g (Karadurmuş and Aydın 2022).

Since the gonads were not prominent at the time of capture, the higher body weight is unlikely to be explained by reproductive condition alone, although November overlaps with the spawning period reported for some populations in other regions (Pajuelo et al. 2008). Instead, the greater weight of the present specimen may be associated with differences in body form and somatic condition, as reflected by its greater maximum body depth of 16.0 cm compared with 13.6 cm in the previously reported Black Sea specimen (Aydın 2019).

In a broader regional context, the specimen reported here exceeds most published maximum lengths from the Aegean Sea and also exceeds the maximum length reported from the Adriatic Sea, where a maximum length of 46.7 cm has been recorded. However, its body weight remains lower than the Adriatic maximum weight of 1,545 g (Kraljević et al. 2007). This record confirms that large adult individuals can occur in the Black Sea, although the factors contributing to such body size remain uncertain. Potential explanations may include local food availability, habitat characteristics, fishing pressure, and population structure.

The presence of only macroalgae, specifically U. rigida and Ceramium spp. (Fig. 3), in the stomach contents is consistent with previous descriptions of D. puntazzo as an omnivorous sparid with a strong herbivorous component in its diet. When considered together with earlier reports of predation on R. venosa egg capsules in the southeastern Black Sea during summer, the present finding suggests that the species may exhibit seasonal dietary flexibility in the region. Such flexibility may be advantageous for recently established populations by allowing individuals to exploit locally available food resources across seasons.

Habitat modifications along the southeastern Black Sea coast may also contribute to the local persistence of this species. Coastal land reclamation and rock-fill structures can create artificial hard-bottom habitats that may provide shelter and feeding opportunities for reef-associated fishes. Nevertheless, this interpretation remains hypothetical, and the role of artificial coastal habitats in the distribution and persistence of D. puntazzo in the Black Sea should be evaluated through dedicated habitat-use studies.

Although D. puntazzo is not currently considered a major target of industrial fisheries in the southeastern Black Sea, its inclusion in Turkish national fishery statistics indicates increasing fishery relevance. The capture of this record-sized specimen by spearfishing suggests that recreational fisheries may occasionally encounter or selectively remove large individuals of this species. However, the present record alone is insufficient to determine the contribution of recreational fisheries to total removals. Consequently, dedicated monitoring of recreational catches, particularly selective fishing methods such as spearfishing, would be useful for assessing whether large individuals are adequately represented in fishery data.

From a management perspective, the occurrence of a large individual supports the need for continued biological monitoring of D. puntazzo in the Black Sea. Such monitoring should focus on size structure, habitat use, and fishery interactions rather than relying solely on isolated maximum-size records. A better understanding of the occurrence and vulnerability of large individuals may help clarify the emerging fishery significance of D. puntazzo in the region and provide a stronger basis for any future management measures.

The present study has several limitations that should be acknowledged:

To address these limitations, future studies should combine systematic seasonal sampling with otolith-based age determination, quantitative diet analysis, habitat-use assessment, and monitoring of recreational catches. These approaches would allow the present maximum-size record to be placed in a broader ecological and fisheries context and would help clarify the growth potential, trophic role, and fishery relevance of D. puntazzo in the Black Sea.