What is the minimum size for Common sole?

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

When is Common sole closed to fishing?

The closed season for Common sole is 1 January–15 February. Fishing for it is banned within those dates. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Common sole found in?

In our records Common sole appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic — Albania, Ionian Sea — 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 Common sole at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Ionian Sea — Albania November–March; Adriatic — Albania November–March; Sea of Marmara October–May; Aegean Sea October–May; Mediterranean September–April; 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; Mediterranean — Spain October–February; 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 October–February; Sardinian Sea — Italy October–February; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy October–February; Adriatic — Italy October–February; Strait of Sicily — Italy October–February; Ionian Sea — Italy October–February; Alboran Sea — Spain October–February; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain October–February; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain October–February; Cantabrian Sea — Spain September–January; Atlantic Ocean — Spain September–January; Balearic Sea — Spain October–February.

Which bait is Common sole caught with?

Baits and lures on record: tubeworm, shrimp, mamun, European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, bottom soft plastic, European sardine, sülünez, European squid, European sprat.

Common sole

Solea solea

Dil balığı
Adi dil

Peak this month Minimum size 20 cm

Family: Soleidae
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Habitat: sandy/muddy bottom
Seas: Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Black Sea
Bait: tube worm, shrimp, mamun · bottom soft plastic
Technique: bottom fishing, surf casting

Common sole — Diego Delso (Wikimedia Commons) · source

Legal status

Türkiye

Minimum size: 20 cm
Maximum quantity: 5 kg
Closed season: 1 January–15 February

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 Common sole caught?

Peak months by sea.

Black Sea

peak this month

Natural bait: tubeworm, shrimp, mamun; regional support: European anchovy / European sprat
Lure: bottom soft plastic
Technique: Surf Casting

Sea of Marmara

Natural bait: tubeworm, shrimp, mamun; regional support: European anchovy / Atlantic horse mackerel / shrimp
Lure: bottom soft plastic
Technique: bottom, surf

Aegean Sea

Natural bait: tubeworm, shrimp, mamun; regional support: European sardine / mamun / sülünez
Lure: bottom soft plastic
Technique: bottom, surf

Mediterranean

peak this month

Natural bait: tubeworm, shrimp, mamun; regional support: European sardine / European squid / shrimp
Lure: bottom soft plastic
Technique: bottom, surf

Bait and technique

Habitat: sandy/muddy bottom
Fishing technique: bottom fishing, surf casting
Natural baits: tube worm, shrimp, mamun
Lures: bottom soft plastic

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Common sole?: In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Common sole is 20 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.
When is Common sole closed to fishing?: The closed season for Common sole is 1 January–15 February. Fishing for it is banned within those dates. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.
Which seas is Common sole found in?: In our records Common sole appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic — Albania, Ionian Sea — 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 Common sole at its peak?: Peak periods by sea: Ionian Sea — Albania November–March; Adriatic — Albania November–March; Sea of Marmara October–May; Aegean Sea October–May; Mediterranean September–April; 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; Mediterranean — Spain October–February; 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 October–February; Sardinian Sea — Italy October–February; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy October–February; Adriatic — Italy October–February; Strait of Sicily — Italy October–February; Ionian Sea — Italy October–February; Alboran Sea — Spain October–February; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain October–February; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain October–February; Cantabrian Sea — Spain September–January; Atlantic Ocean — Spain September–January; Balearic Sea — Spain October–February.
Which bait is Common sole caught with?: Baits and lures on record: tubeworm, shrimp, mamun, European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, bottom soft plastic, European sardine, sülünez, European squid, European sprat.