Sea fish
Southern kingcroaker
Menticirrhus americanus
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
Other names: Southern kingfish
- Habitat
- Dalga hattı · kumsal · kumluk dip
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active by day
- Limited at night
In October
-
Dawn Best 85
0.5 h before sunrise → 3 h after
-
Midday 75
2 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 75
2 h before sunset → 0.5 h after
-
Night 35
0.5 h after sunset → 2 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 45
- First quarter 45
- Full moon 50
- Last quarter 45
Best phase: Full moon
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 65 | 65 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 85 | 85 | 65 |
| Midday | 85 | 85 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| Dusk | 70 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 75 | 75 | 70 |
| Night | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 35 | 35 |
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
0–40 m
mostly 1–20 m
Water temperature
13.4–32.3 °C
ideal 17–28.1 °C
Salinity
Also enters brackish water
5–37.1 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Delta / alluvial shore
- Cove / inner bay
- Promenade / seafront
- Mixed shore
- Shingle shore
- River / stream mouth
- Harbour mouth
Bottom
Lives close to the bottom
- Sand
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
Lures
By water clarity
Bottom scent / lateral-line hunter — Searches the bottom with barbels, smell and lateral line. Has the edge in murky water.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Bloodworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or very fresh worm, shrimp, mole crab; small hidden hook; sunset and night first. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Only where it is known to work locally: scented soft plastic or worm, dragged slowly along the bottom. Colour: Natural brown, Red
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Bloodworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm and shrimp; fresh mussel. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic; bead attractor (for flatfish). Colour: Pink, White, Red
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Bloodworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, mussel, sardine; worm and squid cocktail; the most productive water. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic with scent gel; bead attractor. Colour: Fluorescent
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Bloodworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Heavy scent: a cocktail (worm with squid or fish), crab; on the bottom. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Suitable Usually in this water: Not recommended; if you must, scented soft plastic. Colour: Fluorescent, Glow (UV)
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Bloodworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish and worm cocktail, crab; big pieces, refreshed often. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Weak
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- February
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- March
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- April
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- May
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- June
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- July
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- August
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- September
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- October
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- November
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
- December
- Natural baits: Mole crab, Shrimp, Bloodworm Lures: Scented soft plastic
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 high. 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
- Menticirrhus americanus
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Southern kingfish
