Where is Gilthead seabream caught?

Gilthead seabream

Sparus aurata

Çipura

Çupra

Peak this month Minimum size 20 cm

Family

Sparidae

Order

Eupercaria incertae sedis

Habitat

sandy/stony shore

Seas

Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean

Bait

mamun, sülünez, crab, mussel · soft plastic worm, small jig

Technique

bottom fishing, surf casting, LRF

Legal status

Türkiye

Minimum size: 20 cm
Maximum quantity: 5 kg

Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7 communiqué text

Greece

Minimum size: 20 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

Where is Gilthead seabream caught?

Peak months by sea.

Sea of Marmara

peak this month

Natural bait: mamun, sülünez, crab, mussel; regional support: European anchovy / Atlantic horse mackerel / shrimp
Lure: soft plastic worm, small jig
Technique: Surf Casting

Peak condition range

Wind: 3–18 km/h
Wind direction: light onshore
Water temperature: 17–26 °C
Pressure: 1010–1022 hPa
Wave: 0,2–0,8 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Aegean Sea

peak this month

Natural bait: mamun, sülünez, crab, mussel; regional support: European sardine / mamun / sülünez
Lure: soft plastic worm, small jig
Technique: Surf Casting

Peak condition range

Wind: 3–18 km/h
Wind direction: light onshore
Water temperature: 17–26 °C
Pressure: 1010–1022 hPa
Wave: 0,2–0,8 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Mediterranean

peak this month

Natural bait: mamun, sülünez, crab, mussel; regional support: European sardine / European squid / shrimp
Lure: soft plastic worm, small jig
Technique: Surf Casting

Peak condition range

Wind: 3–18 km/h
Wind direction: light onshore
Water temperature: 17–26 °C
Pressure: 1010–1022 hPa
Wave: 0,2–0,8 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Bait and technique

Habitat

sandy/stony shore

Fishing technique

bottom fishing, surf casting, LRF

Natural baits

mamun, sülünez, crab, mussel

Lures

soft plastic worm, small jig

Tackle recipe

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.

Bottom Fishing

Classic bottom rig

Holding a weighted natural-bait rig on the bottom

Level: Beginner
Effort: Low–Moderate

Rod: 2.70–3.90 m; 40–150 g
Reel: 3000–6000
Main line: 0.25–0.35 mm mono or PE 1.0–2.0
Leader/trace: 0.28–0.45 mm
Hook/lure: #8–3/0
Bait/lure: Shrimp
Connector: Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain
Rod: 2.70–3.90 m; 40–150 g
Reel: 3000–6000
Main line: 0.25–0.35 mm mono or PE 1.0–2.0
Leader/trace: 0.28–0.45 mm
Hook/lure: #8–3/0
Bait/lure: YEM0004
Connector: Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Snagging and lead casting

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

LRF

Light Rock Fishing

Small and medium shore species on light lures of about 1 – 12 g

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Effort: Low–Moderate

Watch out: Hooks, slippery ground and night visibility

Regulations: Güncel Yunanistan ve AB mevzuatı kontrol edilir

Surf Casting

Long-range bottom fishing

Long-range bottom fishing with natural bait on sandy/mixed shores

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Effort: High

Rod: 3.90–4.50 m; 100–250 g
Reel: 5000–14000 surf
Main line: 0.25–0.35 mm + shock leader
Leader/trace: 0.45–0.70 mm shock/trace
Hook/lure: #8–2/0 to suit the target
Bait/lure: Mamun
Connector: Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain
Rod: 3.90–4.50 m; 100–250 g
Reel: 5000–14000 surf
Main line: 0.25–0.35 mm + shock leader
Leader/trace: 0.45–0.70 mm shock/trace
Hook/lure: #8–2/0 to suit the target
Bait/lure: YEM0003
Connector: Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Casting safety with heavy leads

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Gilthead seabream?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Gilthead seabream is 20 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

When is Gilthead seabream closed to fishing?

There is no closed season specific to Gilthead seabream — 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: 20 cm. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Gilthead seabream found in?

In our records Gilthead seabream appears in these seas: Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic — Albania, Ionian Sea — Albania, Bay of Vlorë — Albania, 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 Gilthead seabream at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Ionian Sea — Albania May–October; Adriatic — Albania May–October; Bay of Vlorë — Albania May–October; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece April–October; Sea of Marmara all year; Central & South Aegean — Greece April–October; Ionian Sea — Greece April–October; Aegean Sea all year; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece April–October; Mediterranean all year; Mediterranean — Spain September–November; Famagusta–İskele — Northern Cyprus December–February; Güzelyurt Bay — Northern Cyprus December–February; Kyrenia north coast — Northern Cyprus December–February; Karpas Peninsula — Northern Cyprus December–February; Alboran Sea — Spain September–November; Paphos–Limassol south coast — Southern Cyprus December–February; Ayia Napa–Protaras — Southern Cyprus December–February; Akamas–Paphos west coast — Southern Cyprus December–February; Larnaca southeast coast — Southern Cyprus December–February; Ligurian Sea — Italy September–November; Sardinian Sea — Italy September–November; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy September–November; Adriatic — Italy September–November; Strait of Sicily — Italy September–November; Ionian Sea — Italy September–November; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain September–November; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain September–November; Cantabrian Sea — Spain August–October; Atlantic Ocean — Spain October–December; Balearic Sea — Spain September–November.

Which bait is Gilthead seabream caught with?

Baits and lures on record: mamun, sülünez, crab, mussel, European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, shrimp, soft plastic worm, small jig, European sardine, European squid.