Fish species
Snapper bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Get to know the species and check the fishing rules.
Best spots in October
By month
Average monthly score of the spots in Turkey (0–100).
- 76 Jan
- 72 Feb
- 72 Mar
- 55 Apr
- 74 May
- 72 Jun
- 71 Jul
- 74 Aug
- 86 Sep
- 91 Oct
- 88 Nov
- 78 Dec
The best spot in each Turkish province, by this month’s score.
- Aya Nikola Halk Plajı Adalar, İstanbul 98/100 Very good
- Beğendik Köyü Breakwater NW Demirköy, Kırklareli 98/100 Very good
- Cevizli Deresi Başiskele, Kocaeli 98/100 Very good
- Afanlı Deresi Atakum, Samsun 98/100 Very good
- Cayva Sahili 2 Gerze, Sinop 98/100 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 day and night
- Good at night
In October
-
Dawn 85
1 h before sunrise → 1.5 h after
-
Midday 40
1 h before midday → 1 h after
-
Dusk Best 100
2 h before sunset → 1.5 h after
-
Night 90
0.5 h after sunset → 4 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 65
- First quarter 70
- Full moon 70
- Last quarter 65
Best phase: First quarter
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 70 |
| Midday | 40 | 40 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | |||
| Dusk | 85 | 85 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 85 |
| Night | 75 | 75 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 75 |
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.
8 sources · confidence medium
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
0–200 m
mostly 0–50 m
Water temperature
3.9–31.6 °C
ideal 14–27.4 °C
Salinity
Also enters brackish water
0.5–40.5 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Rocky shore
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Headland
- Mixed shore
- Shingle shore
- River / stream mouth
- Channel / strait link
- Harbour mouth
- Strait shore
- Reclaimed 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
- Horse mackerel
- Garfish
- Picarel
- Sardine
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: Garfish · 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: Clear, Silver, Blue-green back
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Garfish · 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, Silver, Clear
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Garfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Cut oily fish (sardine/mackerel) with chum; under a float or at mid-depth. First lure: Spoon · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spinner, paddle-tail shad, metal jig one size up; vibration first. Colour: White, Pink, Silver
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Garfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish fillet, bloody chunks; chum for a scent trail; fish slower. First lure: Spoon · Suitable Usually in this water: If you must, a rattling vibe/lipless; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Pink, White
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Sardine · Suitable Usually in this water: A large, bloody chunk of oily fish; refresh the bait often. Catches usually drop. First lure: Spoon · Not recommended Colour: Colour does not matter
Night colour: Clear, Silver, White Day colour: Blue-green back
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Anchovy, Horse mackerel, Sardine Lures: Spoon, Popper, Hard minnow, Metal jig
- February
- Natural baits: Anchovy, Horse mackerel, Sardine Lures: Spoon, Popper, Hard minnow, Metal jig
- March
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Garfish, Sardine Lures: Hard minnow, Spoon, Popper, LRF micro soft plastic
- April
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Garfish, Sardine Lures: Hard minnow, Spoon, Popper, LRF micro soft plastic
- May
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Garfish, Sardine Lures: Hard minnow, Spoon, Popper, LRF micro soft plastic
- June
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Garfish, Sardine Lures: Popper, LRF micro soft plastic, Spoon, Sabiki rig
- July
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Garfish, Sardine Lures: Popper, LRF micro soft plastic, Spoon, Sabiki rig
- August
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Garfish, Picarel, Sardine Lures: Spoon, Sabiki rig, Popper, Stickbait
- September
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Garfish, Picarel, Sardine Lures: Spoon, Sabiki rig, Popper, Stickbait
- October
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Garfish, Picarel, Sardine Lures: Spoon, Sabiki rig, Popper, Stickbait
- November
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Picarel, Garfish Lures: Spoon, Sabiki rig, Popper, Stickbait
- December
- Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Picarel, Garfish Lures: Spoon, Popper, Hard minnow, 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 high, lures high. Colour and presentation guide
Fishing rules for Türkiye
Türkiye
- Minimum size
- 18 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
Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum size for Snapper bluefish?
In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Snapper bluefish is 18 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.
When is Snapper bluefish closed to fishing?
There is no closed season specific to Snapper bluefish — 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: 18 cm. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.
