Sea fish
Rainbow smelt
Osmerus mordax
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Nehir ağzı · iskele · kumsal · nehir
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active at night
- Good at night
In November
-
Dawn 55
0.5 h before sunrise → 1.5 h after
-
Dusk 85
1 h before sunset → 1.5 h after
-
Night Best 100
1 h after sunset → 2 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 80
- First quarter 65
- Full moon 50
- Last quarter 65
Best phase: New moon
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 50 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 50 |
| Midday | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | ||||||||
| Dusk | 80 | 80 | 80 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 80 |
| Night | 100 | 100 | 100 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
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
0–425 m
mostly 0–150 m
Water temperature
-1.8–20 °C
ideal 8–12 °C
Salinity
Migrates between fresh and salt water
0–37.3 ‰
Shore types
- Delta / alluvial shore
- Cove / inner bay
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Around marinas
- River / stream mouth
- Lagoon / weir mouth
- Inside harbours
- Harbour mouth
Bottom
Lives in open water
Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.
Confidence: shore type medium, temperature high
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
Lures
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 also works First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Very small fresh pieces (shrimp, worm, fish flesh); thin leader, small hook. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Sabiki rig, small feathers, micro jig; twitch slowly. Colour: Silver
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Ragworm · Very 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: Silver
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Ragworm · 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: Silver
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Ragworm · Suitable Usually in this water: Scented small pieces with chum; at night under lights. First lure: Sabiki rig · 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: Ragworm · Weak Usually in this water: Hard going; chum and scented small pieces. First lure: Sabiki rig · Not recommended Colour: Colour does not matter
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Bloodworm, Shrimp, Ragworm Lures: Sabiki rig
- February
- Natural baits: Bloodworm, Shrimp, Ragworm Lures: Sabiki rig
- March
- Natural baits: Bloodworm, Ragworm Lures: Sabiki rig
- April
- Natural baits: Bloodworm, Ragworm Lures: Sabiki rig
- May
- Out of season
- June
- Out of season
- July
- Out of season
- August
- Out of season
- September
- Out of season
- October
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Ragworm Lures: Sabiki rig
- November
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Ragworm Lures: Sabiki rig
- December
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Ragworm Lures: Sabiki rig
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 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
- Osmerus mordax
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Rainbow smelt
