large, grayish fish of the family Percichthyidae (order Perciformes), found in the Mediterranean and in both sides of the Atlantic, generally in offshore waters. The wreckfish is deep-bodied, with a large head and jutting lower jaw, and attains a length and weight of about 2 metres (6.5 feet) and 36 kilograms (80 pounds) or more. It is named wreckfish because it often lives near floating lumber and other wreckage to feed on the fishes that, in turn, gather to feed on the small organisms found there.