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Sea fish

Mediterranean sand smelt

Atherina hepsetus

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

Other names: Gümüş

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Mediterranean sand smelt
(c) Julien Renoult, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Family
Atherinidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Mediterranean sand smelt caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

Sea of Marmara fishing spots

94
Sea of Marmara
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Explore the coast on the map

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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Sea of Marmara

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 November

By month

Average monthly score of the spots in Turkey (0–100).

  1. 25 Jan
  2. 23 Feb
  3. 26 Mar
  4. 32 Apr
  5. 64 May
  6. 66 Jun
  7. 51 Jul
  8. 38 Aug
  9. 55 Sep
  10. 69 Oct
  11. 49 Nov
  12. 28 Dec

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

  1. Güzelçamlı Sahili Kuşadası, Aydın 64/100 Good
  2. Tahtalı Çayı Menderes, İzmir 64/100 Good
  3. Havran Çayı Burhaniye, Balıkesir 60/100 Good
  4. Kadırga Koyu Sahili Ayvacık, Çanakkale 60/100 Good
  5. Kavala Deresi Enez, Edirne 60/100 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 November

  1. Dawn Best 80

    0.5 h before sunrise → 2 h after

  2. Midday 70

    1.5 h before midday → 1.5 h after

  3. Dusk 80

    1.5 h before sunset → 0.5 h after

  4. Night 40

    1 h after sunset → 2 h before sunrise

Moon phase

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

  1. New moon 70
  2. First quarter 60
  3. Full moon 45
  4. Last quarter 60

Best phase: New moon

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 65 65 80 80 80 85 85 85 80 80 80 65
Midday 80 80 70 70 70 55 55 55 70 70 70 80
Dusk 65 65 75 75 75 85 85 85 80 80 80 65
Night 30 30 35 35 35 45 45 45 40 40 40 30

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 low

Habitat

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

Depth

0–30 m

mostly 0–10 m

Water temperature

15.2–23 °C

ideal 16.8–20.9 °C

Salinity

Also enters brackish water

0–40.5 ‰

Shore types

  • Cove / inner bay
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Around marinas
  • Promenade / seafront
  • River / stream mouth
  • Lagoon / weir mouth
  • Inside harbours
  • Harbour mouth
  • 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 November

Natural baits

Lures

Processed bait (all year)

  • Chicken

By water clarity

Small shoaling fish / planktivore — Small-mouthed, picks its food by sight. Small, shiny lures such as sabiki rigs take the lead in clear water.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Very small fresh pieces (shrimp, worm, fish flesh); thin leader, small hook. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Sabiki rig, small feathers, micro jig; twitch slowly. Colour: White, Silver, Blue-green back
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Small fresh pieces; the sabiki hooks can be baited. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Sabiki rig, micro jig, small spoon. Colour: Pink, Blue-green back, White, Silver
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm or shrimp pieces on the sabiki (baited sabiki); chum. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Baited sabiki, scented micro soft plastic. Colour: Fluorescent, Glow (UV), Pink, White
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Scented small pieces with chum; at night under lights. First lure: Hard minnow · Weak Usually in this water: UV/glow sabiki, lighted float. Colour: Glow (UV), Blue-green back, White
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Hard going; chum and scented small pieces. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Not recommended Colour: Colour does not matter
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
February
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
March
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
April
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
May
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
June
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
July
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
August
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
September
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
October
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
November
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow
December
Natural baits: Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig, Hard minnow

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

In this region · Sea of Marmara

Technique:
Bottom Fishing

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

Mediterranean sand smelt
Scientific name
Atherina hepsetus
Family
Atherinidae
Order
Atheriniformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Çizgili gümüş, Gümüş

Frequently asked questions

Which seas is Mediterranean sand smelt found in?

In our records Mediterranean sand smelt appears in these seas: Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean.

In which months is Mediterranean sand smelt at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Sea of Marmara all year; Aegean Sea all year; Mediterranean all year.

Similar species

Pick your spot, check the conditions, then head out.

Open fishing grounds on the map
Open fishing grounds on the map · 205 fishing grounds

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