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Sea fish

Leerfish

Lichia amia

Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.

Other names: Kuzu · Liça

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Leerfish
(c) Justin Ponder, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Family
Carangidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Leerfish caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

Central & South Aegean fishing spots

179
Central & South Aegean
Map preview

Explore the coast on the map

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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Central & South Aegean

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

Peak months: Apr, May, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Season information is no guarantee of a catch.

Best spots in October

By month

Average monthly score of the spots in Turkey (0–100).

  1. — Jan
  2. — Feb
  3. 62 Mar
  4. 31 Apr
  5. 36 May
  6. 69 Jun
  7. 57 Jul
  8. 55 Aug
  9. 63 Sep
  10. 67 Oct
  11. 72 Nov
  12. 62 Dec

The best spot in each Turkish province, by this month’s score.

  1. Ayvalık Belediyesi Plaj İşletmesi Ayvalık, Balıkesir 90/100 Very good
  2. Kadırga Koyu Sahili Ayvacık, Çanakkale 90/100 Very good
  3. Enez Limanı Dış Kıyısı Enez, Edirne 90/100 Very good
  4. Güzelhisar Çayı Aliağa, İzmir 90/100 Very good
  5. Bulanık Dere Demirköy, Kırklareli 90/100 Very good

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

  1. Dawn Best 100

    1 h before sunrise → 2 h after

  2. Midday 35

    1 h before midday → 1 h after

  3. Dusk 90

    2 h before sunset → 1 h after

  4. Night 50

    1 h after sunset → 3 h before sunrise

Moon phase

Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.

  1. New moon 55
  2. First quarter 55
  3. Full moon 65
  4. Last quarter 55

Best phase: No clear effect

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 70 70 85 85 85 95 95 95 100 100 100 70
Midday 40 40 30 30 30 35 35 35 40
Dusk 65 65 80 80 80 85 85 85 90 90 90 65
Night 25 25 40 40 40 55 55 55 50 50 50 25

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.

7 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.

Depth

0–50 m

mostly 0–30 m

Water temperature

8.9–31.8 °C

ideal 20–26.3 °C

Salinity

Also enters brackish water

0–39.3 ‰

Shore types

  • Sandy beach
  • Delta / alluvial shore
  • Cove / inner bay
  • Rocky shore
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Headland
  • Mixed shore
  • Shingle shore
  • River / stream mouth
  • Lagoon / weir mouth
  • Channel / strait link
  • Harbour mouth
  • Strait shore

Bottom

Lives in open water

Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.

Confidence: shore type high, temperature medium

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

Natural baits

Lures

By water clarity

Pelagic sight hunter — Chases baitfish shoals by sight. Lures shine in clear water; in murky water its hunting range shrinks.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live baitfish or a whole fresh fish; thin fluorocarbon leader, no float or a light one. First lure: Stickbait · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow/stickbait, slim metal jig; fast, erratic retrieve. Colour: White
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or fresh whole fish; normal size. First lure: Stickbait · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spoon, metal jig, popper/topwater; medium-fast retrieve. Colour: White
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Cut oily fish (sardine/mackerel) with chum; under a float or at mid-depth. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spinner, paddle-tail shad, metal jig one size up; vibration first. Colour: White
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish fillet, bloody chunks; chum for a scent trail; fish slower. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Suitable Usually in this water: If you must, a rattling vibe/lipless; near the bottom, slow. Colour: White
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: A large, bloody chunk of oily fish; refresh the bait often. Catches usually drop. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Weak Colour: Colour does not matter
12-month bait calendar
January
Out of season
February
Out of season
March
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Metal jig, Stickbait, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait
April closed season
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Metal jig, Stickbait, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait
May closed season
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Metal jig, Stickbait, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait
June
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Metal jig, Stickbait, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait
July
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Metal jig, Stickbait, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait
August
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Metal jig, Stickbait, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait
September
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Popper, Metal jig, Stickbait, Jighead + soft swimbait
October
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Popper, Metal jig, Stickbait, Jighead + soft swimbait
November
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Popper, Metal jig, Stickbait, Jighead + soft swimbait
December
Natural baits: Mullet, Squid, Shrimp, Horse mackerel Lures: Metal jig, Stickbait, Popper, Jighead + soft swimbait

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

Tackle recipe

Shore Jigging

Shore jigging

Searching far and deep water with metal jigs

  • Level: Intermediate–Advanced
  • Effort: High
Rod
2.70–3.30 m; 20–100 g
Reel
4000–6000
Main line
PE 1.5–3.0
Leader/trace
0.45–0.70 mm
Hook/lure
Assist #1/0–5/0
Bait/lure
Metal jig
Connector
Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Heavy lures, fatigue, cliff and wave risk

Keep with you: Pliers, hook remover, glasses and first aid

Regulations: Communiqué 2024/21 Article 16 hook and line limits and place bans are checked

  • Rod

  • Reel

  • Line and leader

A setup to start from. Rod length, line diameter and drag are changed to suit the size of fish you are after and the current and bottom structure of the ground.

See tackle suggestions

Fishing rules for Türkiye

Türkiye

Minimum size
40 cm
Maximum quantity
1 fish

Closed season: 15 April–15 May

Single-species or mixed total; details and exceptions are in the regulation.

Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7 communiqué text

MVT0002

2024/21 Çizelge 7

No additional species note; the general provisions of 2024/21 apply

The table in our records

Minimum size
40 cm
Maximum quantity
1 fish
Closed season
15 April–15 May

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.

Species profile

Leerfish
Scientific name
Lichia amia
Family
Carangidae
Order
Carangiformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Akya, Kuzu, Liça

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Leerfish?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Leerfish is 40 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

When is Leerfish closed to fishing?

The closed season for Leerfish is 15 April–15 May. Fishing for it is banned within those dates. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Leerfish found in?

In our records Leerfish 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.

In which months is Leerfish at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: North Aegean & Thrace — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Central & South Aegean — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Ionian Sea — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece April–November; 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 May–September; Sardinian Sea — Italy May–September; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy May–September; Strait of Sicily — Italy May–September; Adriatic — Italy May–September; Ionian Sea — Italy May–September; Mediterranean — Spain May–September; Alboran Sea — Spain May–September; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain May–September; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain May–September; Cantabrian Sea — Spain April–August; Atlantic Ocean — Spain April–August; Balearic Sea — Spain May–September.

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