Sea fish
Doublespotted queenfish
Scomberoides lysan
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
Other names: Doublespotted queenfish (lai)
- Habitat
- Resif · kumsal · iskele · pelajik
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active by day
- Poor at night
In November
-
Dawn Best 80
0.5 h before sunrise → 2.5 h after
-
Midday 75
1.5 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 70
2 h before sunset → 0.5 h after
Not productive at night
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 40
- First quarter 45
- Full moon 55
- Last quarter 50
Best phase: Full moon
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 80 |
| Midday | 75 | 75 | 75 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 | 75 |
| Dusk | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 70 | 70 |
| 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.
4 sources · confidence medium
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
0–100 m
mostly 1–30 m
Water temperature
21.5–33.3 °C
ideal 24.9–29.1 °C
Salinity
Also enters brackish water
10–38.9 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Cove / inner bay
- Rocky shore
- Breakwater / jetty
- Headland
- River / stream mouth
- Lagoon / weir mouth
- Harbour mouth
- Reclaimed shore
- Shoal / reef
Bottom
Lives in open water
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.
Bait by month
Baits documented for shore fishing, month by month and by water clarity.
In November
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 also works First natural bait: Oama · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live baitfish or a whole fresh fish; thin fluorocarbon leader, no float or a light one. First lure: Fly · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow/stickbait, slim metal jig; fast, erratic retrieve. Colour: Clear
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Oama · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or fresh whole fish; normal size. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spoon, metal jig, popper/topwater; medium-fast retrieve. Colour: Clear
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Oama · 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, Fluorescent, Gold
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Oama · 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: Fluorescent, Dark silhouette
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Oama · 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
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- February
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- March
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- April
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- May
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- June
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- July
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Jighead + soft plastic, Fly
- August
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- September
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- October
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- November
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal jig
- December
- Natural baits: Oama Lures: Sabiki rig, Jighead + soft swimbait, Fly, Metal 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 low, lures medium. Colour and presentation guide
Fishing rules
The regulation holds no separate minimum size or closed season entry for this species. The provisions for Türkiye as a whole apply.
Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.
Species profile
- Scientific name
- Scomberoides lysan
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Doublespotted queenfish (lai)
