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Sea fish

Golden grey mullet

Chelon auratus

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

Other names: Sarıkulak kefal

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Golden grey mullet
Francesco Tiralongo (Wikimedia Commons) · source
Habitat
Shore and harbour
Method
Float fishing
Family
Mugilidae

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Where is Golden grey mullet caught?

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Black Sea fishing spots

204
Black Sea
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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Black Sea

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).

  1. 60 Jan
  2. 60 Feb
  3. 60 Mar
  4. 68 Apr
  5. 70 May
  6. 65 Jun
  7. 62 Jul
  8. 70 Aug
  9. 75 Sep
  10. 78 Oct
  11. 70 Nov
  12. 59 Dec

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

  1. Gestaş Narlı İskelesi Erdek, Balıkesir 88/100 Very good
  2. Galataport Beyoğlu, İstanbul 88/100 Very good
  3. Kundu Plajı 5 Aksu, Antalya 82/100 Very good
  4. Büyükkumla Deresi Gemlik, Bursa 82/100 Very good
  5. Beğendik Köyü Breakwater NW Demirköy, Kırklareli 82/100 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 by day
  • Limited at night

In October

  1. Dawn Best 85

    0.5 h before sunrise → 2.5 h after

  2. Midday 60

    1.5 h before midday → 2 h after

  3. Dusk 80

    2 h before sunset → 1 h after

Not productive at night

Moon phase

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

  1. New moon 40
  2. First quarter 45
  3. Full moon 50
  4. Last quarter 45

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 55 55 80 80 80 90 90 90 85 85 85 55
Midday 85 85 65 65 65 25 25 25 60 60 60 85
Dusk 65 65 75 75 75 80 80 80 80 80 80 65
Night

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.

5 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

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

Depth

0–20 m

mostly 10–20 m

Water temperature

6–30 °C

ideal 16–24 °C

Salinity

Migrates between fresh and salt water

0–39.3 ‰

Shore types

  • Delta / alluvial shore
  • Cove / inner bay
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Around marinas
  • Promenade / seafront
  • River / stream mouth
  • Lagoon / weir mouth
  • Channel / strait link
  • Inside harbours
  • Harbour mouth
  • Reclaimed shore

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand
  • Sand, gravel and rock

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

Processed bait (all year)

  • Bread

By water clarity

Herbivore / detritivore — Eats weed, algae and bottom mud. Rarely takes a lure.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Diopatra tube worm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Weed, sea lettuce, worm; very fine tackle; chum. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Only where it is known to work locally: weed or bread imitation fly, micro soft plastic. Colour: Clear
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Diopatra tube worm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Weed, worm; chum. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Where it is known to work locally, a bread or weed fly. Colour: Clear
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Fish guts · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm with chum; stream or channel mouths. First lure: Spinner · Very suitable Colour: Gold
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Fish guts · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm, fish guts; chum; mullet feed in murky stream mouths. First lure: Spinner · Very suitable Colour: Gold
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Fish guts · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm, fish guts; chum. First lure: Spinner · Suitable
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
February
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
March
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
April
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
May
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
June
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
July
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
August
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
September
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
October
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
November
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner
December
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Sardine, Ragworm, Fish guts Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Spinner

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 medium, lures low. Colour and presentation guide

Fishing technique

In this region · Black Sea

Natural bait:
bread, seaweed, worm; regional support: European anchovy / European sprat
Lure:
small soft plastic
Technique:
Bolognese

Fishing rules for Türkiye

Türkiye

Minimum size
30 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg

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

No species-specific closed season is listed; area and method rules still apply.

Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7 communiqué text

MVT0016

2024/21 Çizelge 7

No additional species note; the general provisions of 2024/21 apply No species-based time closure is stated; the area and method provisions are reserved

The table in our records

Minimum size
30 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg

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

Golden grey mullet
Scientific name
Chelon auratus
Family
Mugilidae
Order
Mugiliformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Altınbaş kefal, Sarıkulak kefal

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Golden grey mullet?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Golden grey mullet is 30 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

When is Golden grey mullet closed to fishing?

There is no closed season specific to Golden grey mullet — the regulations set no time ban for this species. Area and gear rules still apply. The limit that applies all year is the minimum size: 30 cm. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Golden grey mullet found in?

In our records Golden grey mullet appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic — Albania, Ionian Sea — Albania, North Aegean & Thrace — Greece, Central & South Aegean — Greece, Ionian Sea — Greece, Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece, 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, Black Sea — Bulgaria, Black Sea — Romania.

In which months is Golden grey mullet at its peak?

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

Which bait is Golden grey mullet caught with?

Baits and lures on record: bread, seaweed, worm, European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, shrimp, small soft plastic, European sprat, European sardine, mamun, sülünez, European squid.

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