Sea fish
Red mullet
Mullus barbatus
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
Other names: Barbun
- Habitat
- Sandy · muddy bottom
- Method
- Bottom fishing · LRF
- Family
- Mullidae
Choose your region
The information changes with the region you choose.
Where is Red mullet caught?
Explore the regions or go straight to the map.
Aegean Sea fishing spots
Mediterranean fishing spots
Sea of Marmara fishing spots
Black Sea fishing spots
1North Aegean & Thrace fishing spots
35Central & South Aegean fishing spots
41Ionian Sea fishing spots
26Crete & Libyan Sea fishing spots
15Tyrrhenian Sea fishing spots
102Famagusta–İskele fishing spots
9Güzelyurt Bay fishing spots
6Kyrenia north coast fishing spots
10Karpas Peninsula fishing spots
10Paphos–Limassol south coast fishing spots
15Ayia Napa–Protaras fishing spots
12Akamas–Paphos west coast fishing spots
25Larnaca southeast coast fishing spots
11Ligurian Sea fishing spots
17Sardinian Sea fishing spots
14Strait of Sicily fishing spots
11Adriatic fishing spots
35Ionian Sea fishing spots
26Mediterranean fishing spots
68Alboran Sea fishing spots
25Strait of Gibraltar fishing spots
10Gulf of Cádiz fishing spots
13Cantabrian Sea fishing spots
46Atlantic Ocean fishing spots
46Balearic Sea fishing spots
29Adriatic fishing spots
123Black Sea fishing spots
49Black Sea fishing spots
38No 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.
1 fishing ground
35 fishing grounds
41 fishing grounds
26 fishing grounds
15 fishing grounds
102 fishing grounds
9 fishing grounds
6 fishing grounds
10 fishing grounds
10 fishing grounds
15 fishing grounds
12 fishing grounds
25 fishing grounds
11 fishing grounds
17 fishing grounds
14 fishing grounds
11 fishing grounds
35 fishing grounds
26 fishing grounds
- Barranc de la Móra Tarragona
- Barranc de Malentivet Castellón · Vinaròs
- Barranc d'Irta Castellón · Vinaròs
- Barranco Aguilar Murcia · Cartagena
- Delta de l’Ebre · river mouth sector Tarragona · Delta de l’Ebre
- Foix Tarragona
- Rambla de Arenque Murcia · Cartagena
- Riera de Romanyac Girona · Cadaqués
- Barranco del Mónsul Almería
- Rambla del Plomo Almería
- Almería · river mouth sector 2 Almería
- Arroyo de Benagalbón Málaga
- Arroyo de Guadalobon Málaga · Marbella
- Arroyo de Guadalpin Málaga · Marbella
- Arroyo de las Cabrillas Málaga · Marbella
- Arroyo del Saladillo Málaga · Marbella
- Arroyo del Culantrillo Cádiz · Algeciras
- Algeciras · river mouth sector Cádiz · Algeciras
- Arroyo de Martagina Cádiz · Algeciras
- Ceuta · river mouth sector 2 Ceuta
- Plage almina شاطئ ألمينا Ceuta
- Río Barbate Cádiz · Tarifa
- Rio de la Vega Cádiz · Tarifa
- Rio del Cachón Cádiz · Tarifa
- Arroyo de Alcántara Cádiz
- Arroyo Julianejo Huelva
- Cádiz · river mouth sector Cádiz
- Caño de Sancti Petri Cádiz
- Caño de San Rafael Cádiz
- Huelva · river mouth sector Huelva
- Playa de La Barrosa Cádiz
- Playa del Inglesito Cádiz
- Amorraga Bizkaia · Bilbao
- Llanes · river mouth sector Asturias · Llanes
- Ría de Treto Cantabria · Castro-Urdiales
- Río España Asturias · Gijón
- Río Esva Asturias · Luarca
- Río Guadamía Asturias · Llanes
- Río La Ferrería Asturias · Gijón
- Río Xunco Lugo · Ribadeo
- Ferrol · river mouth sector 2 A Coruña · Ferrol
- Rego da Canle da Fonte Pontevedra · Ribeira
- Rego de Moreira Pontevedra · Ribeira
- Rego dos Muíños Pontevedra · Vigo
- Ribeira · river mouth sector 10 Pontevedra · Ribeira
- Ribeira · river mouth sector 8 Pontevedra · Ribeira
- Río de Viladesuso Pontevedra · A Guarda
- Vigo · river mouth sector Pontevedra · Vigo
- Alcúdia · river mouth sector 3 Mallorca · Alcúdia
- Alcúdia · river mouth sector 5 Mallorca · Alcúdia
- Cala Sant Miquel Eivissa
- Canal de sa Gravada Eivissa
- Ciutadella · river mouth sector 4 Menorca · Ciutadella
- Comellar de Portals Mallorca · Palma
- Maó · river mouth sector 4 Menorca · Maó
- Alcúdia · river mouth sector Mallorca · Alcúdia
123 fishing grounds
49 fishing grounds
38 fishing grounds
No fishing ground or region matches your search.
A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.
Aegean Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Mediterranean
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Sea of Marmara
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
-
Wind
0–15 km/h
Light onshore
-
Water temperature
15–24 °C
-
Pressure
1010–1023 hPa
-
Wave
0,1–0,6 m
General ranges for the species; not live weather. No guarantee of a catch.
Black Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.
-
Wind
0–15 km/h
Light onshore
-
Water temperature
15–24 °C
-
Pressure
1010–1023 hPa
-
Wave
0,1–0,6 m
General ranges for the species; not live weather. No guarantee of a catch.
North Aegean & Thrace
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Central & South Aegean
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Ionian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Crete & Libyan Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Tyrrhenian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
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: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Sardinian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Strait of Sicily
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Adriatic
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Ionian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Mediterranean
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Alboran Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Strait of Gibraltar
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Gulf of Cádiz
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Cantabrian Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Atlantic Ocean
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Balearic Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Adriatic
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Black Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Black Sea
Season and suitable conditions
Check the season information for the region you chose.
Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Season information is no guarantee of a catch.
Best spots in October
By month
Average monthly score of the spots in Turkey (0–100).
- 0 Jan
- 0 Feb
- 0 Mar
- 0 Apr
- 0 May
- 37 Jun
- 33 Jul
- 32 Aug
- 34 Sep
- 36 Oct
- 37 Nov
- 0 Dec
The best spot in each Turkish province, by this month’s score.
- Akbük Halk Plajı Didim, Aydın 41/100 Good
- Duba Plajı Ayvalık, Balıkesir 41/100 Good
- Kadırga Koyu Sahili Ayvacık, Çanakkale 41/100 Good
- Gülçavuş Köyü Plajı Enez, Edirne 41/100 Good
- Aynalı Dere Çatalca, İstanbul 41/100 Good
A 0–100 score from season, water temperature, habitat and local records; a general trend, not a guarantee.
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Rarely caught on a line from the shore.
Depth
10–328 m
mostly 100–300 m
Water temperature
6.6–28 °C
ideal 11–21.5 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
11.6–39.3 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Cove / inner bay
Bottom
Lives close to the bottom
- Sand
- Sand and gravel
- Gravel
Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.
Confidence: shore type medium, temperature medium
Bait and tackle suggestions
Recorded baits and fishing techniques.
Lures
- Soft plastic worm
In this region · Aegean Sea
- Natural bait:
- shrimp, tubeworm, mamun; regional support: European sardine / mamun / sülünez
- Lure:
- soft plastic worm
- Technique:
- bottom, LRF
In this region · Mediterranean
- Natural bait:
- shrimp, tubeworm, mamun; regional support: European sardine / European squid / shrimp
- Lure:
- soft plastic worm
- Technique:
- bottom, LRF
In this region · Sea of Marmara
- Natural bait:
- shrimp, tubeworm, mamun; regional support: European anchovy / Atlantic horse mackerel / shrimp
- Lure:
- soft plastic worm
- Technique:
- bottom, LRF
In this region · Black Sea
- Natural bait:
- shrimp, tubeworm, mamun; regional support: European anchovy / European sprat
- Lure:
- soft plastic worm
- Technique:
- Surf Casting
Fishing rules for Türkiye
Türkiye
- Minimum size
- 12 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
Fishing rules for Greece
Greece
- Minimum size
- 11 cm
- Maximum quantity
- 5 kg
Closed season: Tür/alan/dönem için daha sıkı kural olabilir
Legal basis: EU 2019/1241 Ek IX + Yunan ulusal mevzuatı communiqué text
Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.
Species profile
- Scientific name
- Mullus barbatus
- Family
- Mullidae
- Order
- Mulliformes
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Seas
- Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea
- Other names
- Barbun, Barbunya
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum size for Red mullet?
In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Red mullet is 12 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.
When is Red mullet closed to fishing?
There is no closed season specific to Red 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: 12 cm. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.
Which seas is Red mullet found in?
In our records Red mullet appears in these seas: Black Sea, 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, Black Sea — Bulgaria, Black Sea — Romania.
In which months is Red mullet at its peak?
Peak periods by sea: Aegean Sea April–November; Mediterranean March–October; Sea of Marmara April–November; Black Sea 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; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy May–September; 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; 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; Adriatic — Croatia May–October; Black Sea — Bulgaria June–October; Black Sea — Romania June–October.
Which bait is Red mullet caught with?
Baits and lures on record: shrimp, tubeworm, mamun, European sardine, sülünez, soft plastic worm, European squid, European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, European sprat.
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