Sea fish
Common octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
Other names: Adi ahtapot
- Family
- Octopodidae
Choose your region
The information changes with the region you choose.
Where is Common octopus caught?
Explore the regions or go straight to the map.
Sea of Marmara fishing spots
Aegean Sea fishing spots
Mediterranean fishing spots
North Aegean & Thrace fishing spots
72Central & South Aegean fishing spots
91Ionian Sea fishing spots
39Crete & Libyan Sea fishing spots
13Famagusta–İskele fishing spots
12Güzelyurt Bay fishing spots
8Kyrenia north coast fishing spots
14Karpas Peninsula fishing spots
15Paphos–Limassol south coast fishing spots
26Ayia Napa–Protaras fishing spots
16Akamas–Paphos west coast fishing spots
32Larnaca southeast coast fishing spots
18Ligurian Sea fishing spots
3Strait of Sicily fishing spots
8Tyrrhenian Sea fishing spots
32Ionian Sea fishing spots
4Adriatic fishing spots
32Sardinian Sea fishing spots
10Mediterranean fishing spots
8Strait of Gibraltar fishing spots
4Cantabrian Sea fishing spots
6Balearic Sea fishing spots
15Atlantic Ocean fishing spots
135Alboran Sea fishing spots
3Gulf of Cádiz fishing spots
7Adriatic fishing spots
1,121Atlantic fishing spots
238Mediterranean fishing spots
332No site-level records in this region; the information is at region level.
No site-level records in this region; the information is at region level.
No site-level records in this region; the information is at region level.
72 fishing grounds
91 fishing grounds
39 fishing grounds
13 fishing grounds
12 fishing grounds
8 fishing grounds
14 fishing grounds
15 fishing grounds
26 fishing grounds
16 fishing grounds
32 fishing grounds
18 fishing grounds
3 fishing grounds
8 fishing grounds
32 fishing grounds
4 fishing grounds
32 fishing grounds
10 fishing grounds
8 fishing grounds
4 fishing grounds
6 fishing grounds
15 fishing grounds
135 fishing grounds
3 fishing grounds
7 fishing grounds
- Arat Primorje-Gorski Kotar · Otok Losinj
- Arbanasi Zadar
- Artatore Primorje-Gorski Kotar · Otok Losinj
- Baba Šibenik-Knin · Otok Sit
- Babe Zadar · Povljana
- Babina Dubrovnik-Neretva · Korčula
- Babina Guzica Šibenik-Knin · Otok Kurba Vela
- Babino Polje Dubrovnik-Neretva · Mljet
238 fishing grounds
332 fishing grounds
No fishing ground or region matches your search.
A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.
Sea of Marmara
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
There is no season data for this species yet.
Missing data does not mean an unproductive period.
Aegean Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
There is no season data for this species yet.
Missing data does not mean an unproductive period.
Mediterranean
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
There is no season data for this species yet.
Missing data does not mean an unproductive period.
North Aegean & Thrace
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Central & South Aegean
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Ionian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Crete & Libyan Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Famagusta–İskele
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Güzelyurt Bay
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Kyrenia north coast
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Karpas Peninsula
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Paphos–Limassol south coast
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Ayia Napa–Protaras
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Akamas–Paphos west coast
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Larnaca southeast coast
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Ligurian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Strait of Sicily
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Tyrrhenian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Ionian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Adriatic
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Sardinian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Mediterranean
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Strait of Gibraltar
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Cantabrian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Mar, Apr, May, Aug, Sep, Oct
Balearic Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Atlantic Ocean
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Oct, Nov, Dec
Alboran Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Gulf of Cádiz
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Adriatic
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Atlantic
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Mediterranean
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
Season information is no guarantee of a catch.
Best spots in October
By month
Average monthly score of the spots in Turkey (0–100).
- 43 Jan
- 43 Feb
- 43 Mar
- 37 Apr
- 0 May
- 0 Jun
- 0 Jul
- 0 Aug
- 0 Sep
- 0 Oct
- 68 Nov
- 62 Dec
Not recommended this month
A 0–100 score from season, water temperature, habitat and local records; a general trend, not a guarantee.
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active at dawn and dusk
- Limited at night
In October
-
Dawn 85
1 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 35
1 h before midday → 1 h after
-
Dusk Best 90
1.5 h before sunset → 2 h after
-
Night 60
1.5 h after sunset → 1.5 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 65
- First quarter 60
- Full moon 50
- Last quarter 60
Best phase: New moon
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 75 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 75 |
| Midday | 55 | 55 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 55 | |||
| Dusk | 80 | 80 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 80 |
| Night | 45 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 45 |
Windows follow sunrise and sunset; clock times change with place and date. Scores are relative within the month: 100 is the best window of the day.
4 sources · confidence medium
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
0–347 m
mostly 0–100 m
Water temperature
7–27.4 °C
ideal 17–20 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
25–45 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Cove / inner bay
- Rocky shore
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Around marinas
- Mixed shore
- Inside harbours
- Cliff / steep shore
- Reclaimed shore
- Shoal / reef
Bottom
Lives close to the bottom
- Sand
- Rock
Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.
Confidence: shore type high, temperature high
Bait and tackle suggestions
Recorded baits and fishing techniques.
Bait by month
Baits documented for shore fishing, month by month and by water clarity.
In October
Closed season 15 April–31 October. No bait advice is shown for this month. (2024/21 Çizelge 7)
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Garfish, Moray eel, Crab, Sardine Lures: Octopus jig, Squid jig
- February
- Natural baits: Garfish, Moray eel, Crab, Sardine Lures: Octopus jig, Squid jig
- March
- Natural baits: Garfish, Moray eel, Crab, Sardine Lures: Octopus jig, Squid jig
- April closed season
- Natural baits: Garfish, Moray eel, Crab, Sardine Lures: Octopus jig, Squid jig
- May closed season
- Closed season 15 April–31 October. No bait advice is shown for this month.
- June closed season
- Closed season 15 April–31 October. No bait advice is shown for this month.
- July closed season
- Closed season 15 April–31 October. No bait advice is shown for this month.
- August closed season
- Closed season 15 April–31 October. No bait advice is shown for this month.
- September closed season
- Closed season 15 April–31 October. No bait advice is shown for this month.
- October closed season
- Closed season 15 April–31 October. No bait advice is shown for this month.
- November
- Natural baits: Garfish, Moray eel, Crab, Sardine Lures: Octopus jig, Squid jig
- December
- Natural baits: Garfish, Moray eel, Crab, Sardine Lures: Octopus jig, Squid jig
This is the usual pattern; the water and weather on the day can change it. Colour is fine-tuning: bait type, size and action come first. Confidence: natural high, lures high. Colour and presentation guide
Fishing rules for Türkiye
Türkiye
- Minimum size
- 750 g
- Maximum quantity
- 1 fish
Closed season: 15 April–31 October
Single-species or mixed total; details and exceptions are in the regulation.
Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7 communiqué text
Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.
Species profile
- Scientific name
- Octopus vulgaris
- Family
- Octopodidae
- Order
- Octopoda
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Seas
- Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
- Other names
- Ahtapot, Adi ahtapot
Frequently asked questions
When is Common octopus closed to fishing?
The closed season for Common octopus is 15 April–31 October. Fishing for it is banned within those dates. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.
Which seas is Common octopus found in?
In our records Common octopus appears in these seas: Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, North Aegean & Thrace — Greece, Central & South Aegean — Greece, Ionian Sea — Greece, Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece, Güzelyurt Bay — Northern Cyprus, Kyrenia north coast — Northern Cyprus, Famagusta–İskele — Northern Cyprus, Karpas Peninsula — Northern Cyprus, Akamas–Paphos west coast — Southern Cyprus, Paphos–Limassol south coast — Southern Cyprus, Larnaca southeast coast — Southern Cyprus, Ayia Napa–Protaras — Southern Cyprus, Ligurian Sea — Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy, Adriatic — Italy, Ionian Sea — Italy, Strait of Sicily — Italy, Sardinian Sea — Italy, Atlantic Ocean — Spain, Mediterranean — Spain, Cantabrian Sea — Spain, Balearic Sea — Spain, Alboran Sea — Spain, Gulf of Cádiz — Spain, Strait of Gibraltar — Spain, Adriatic — Croatia, Mediterranean — France, Atlantic — France.
In which months is Common octopus at its peak?
Peak periods by sea: North Aegean & Thrace — Greece October–March; Central & South Aegean — Greece October–March; Ionian Sea — Greece October–March; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece September–March; Famagusta–İskele — Northern Cyprus all year; Güzelyurt Bay — Northern Cyprus all year; Kyrenia north coast — Northern Cyprus all year; Karpas Peninsula — Northern Cyprus all year; Paphos–Limassol south coast — Southern Cyprus all year; Ayia Napa–Protaras — Southern Cyprus all year; Akamas–Paphos west coast — Southern Cyprus all year; Larnaca southeast coast — Southern Cyprus all year; Ligurian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October, November; Strait of Sicily — Italy April, May, June, September, October, November; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October, November; Ionian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October, November; Adriatic — Italy April, May, June, September, October, November; Sardinian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October, November; Mediterranean — Spain April, May, June, September, October, November; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain April, May, June, September, October, November; Cantabrian Sea — Spain March, April, May, August, September, October; Balearic Sea — Spain April, May, June, September, October, November; Atlantic Ocean — Spain May, June, July, October, November, December; Alboran Sea — Spain April, May, June, September, October, November; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain April, May, June, September, October, November; Adriatic — Croatia all year; Atlantic — France all year; Mediterranean — France all year.
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