Skip to content
Piscatorium
Sign in

Sea fish

European anchovy

Engraulis encrasicolus

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

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
European anchovy
(c) Karim Haddad, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Habitat
Schooling open · coastal water
Method
Light sabiki
Family
Engraulidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is European anchovy caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

Central & South Aegean fishing spots

178
Central & South Aegean
Map preview

Explore the coast on the map

Open map

A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Central & South Aegean

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

Peak months: Apr, May, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Season information is no guarantee of a catch.

Best spots in October

By month

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

  1. 36 Jan
  2. 36 Feb
  3. 32 Mar
  4. 0 Apr
  5. 25 May
  6. 23 Jun
  7. 23 Jul
  8. 22 Aug
  9. 23 Sep
  10. 53 Oct
  11. 35 Nov
  12. 36 Dec

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

  1. Balyozburnu Feneri Erdek, Balıkesir 62/100 Good
  2. Küçükçekmece Sahil Parkı Avcılar, İstanbul 62/100 Good
  3. Armankaya Koyu Gelibolu, Çanakkale 61/100 Good
  4. Deniz Kabuğu Perşembe, Ordu 61/100 Good
  5. Yalı Sahili Güzelbahçe, İzmir 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 at night
  • Good at night

In October

  1. Dawn 55

    1 h before sunrise → 1 h after

  2. Midday 30

    1 h before midday → 1 h after

  3. Dusk 85

    1 h before sunset → 1.5 h after

  4. Night Best 85

    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 85
  2. First quarter 65
  3. Full moon 35
  4. Last quarter 65

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 60 60 55 55 55 50 50 50 55 55 55 60
Midday 35 35 30 30 30 30 30 30 35
Dusk 85 85 75 75 75 75 75 75 85 85 85 85
Night 85 85 75 75 75 80 80 80 85 85 85 85

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.

5 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

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

Depth

0–400 m

mostly 0–150 m

Water temperature

6–30.5 °C

ideal 14–20 °C

Salinity

Also enters brackish water

5–41 ‰

Shore types

  • Delta / alluvial shore
  • Cove / inner bay
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Around marinas
  • Headland
  • Promenade / seafront
  • River / stream mouth
  • Lagoon / weir mouth
  • Channel / strait link
  • Inside harbours
  • Harbour mouth
  • Strait shore
  • 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 October

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 lure: Sabiki rig · 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 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 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
Lure 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
Lure First lure: Sabiki rig · Not recommended Colour: Colour does not matter No strong option in this water; catches may be poor.
12-month bait calendar
January
Lures: Sabiki rig
February
Lures: Sabiki rig
March
Lures: Sabiki rig
April
Out of season
May
Lures: Sabiki rig
June
Lures: Sabiki rig
July
Lures: Sabiki rig
August
Lures: Sabiki rig
September
Lures: Sabiki rig
October
Lures: Sabiki rig
November
Lures: Sabiki rig
December
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 low, lures high. Colour and presentation guide

Fishing technique

Fishing rules for Greece

Greece

Minimum size
9 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

Species size/quantity limit

EU 2019/1241 Ek IX + Yunan ulusal mevzuatı

AB asgari boy + Yunan Sahil Güvenliği genel günlük miktar çerçevesi; resmî güncel metin kontrol edilir

The table in our records

Minimum size
9 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg
Closed season
Tür/alan/dönem için daha sıkı kural olabilir

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.

Species profile

European anchovy
Scientific name
Engraulis encrasicolus
Family
Engraulidae
Order
Clupeiformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Aegean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Hamsi

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for European anchovy?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for European anchovy is 9 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: EU 2019/1241 Ek IX + Yunan ulusal mevzuatı.

Which seas is European anchovy found in?

In our records European anchovy appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, 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, North Sea — Netherlands, North Sea — Belgium.

In which months is European anchovy at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Aegean Sea September–February; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Central & South Aegean — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Ionian Sea — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece April–November; Sea of Marmara all year; Black Sea all year; Mediterranean all year; 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 April–September; Sardinian Sea — Italy April–September; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy April–September; Strait of Sicily — Italy April–September; Adriatic — Italy April–September; Ionian Sea — Italy April–September; Mediterranean — Spain April–September; Alboran Sea — Spain April–September; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain April–September; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain April–September; Cantabrian Sea — Spain April–August; Atlantic Ocean — Spain May–October; Balearic Sea — Spain April–September; North Sea — Netherlands August–September; North Sea — Belgium August–September.

Which bait is European anchovy caught with?

Baits and lures on record: thin fish flesh, shrimp, European sardine, mamun, sülünez, micro sabiki, European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, European sprat, European squid.

Similar species

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

Open fishing grounds on the map
Open fishing grounds on the map · 1,111 fishing grounds

Pisca AI

Members only

Ask about this species

European anchovy · Engraulis encrasicolus

Works with Piscatorium data: spot scores, seasonal species and tackle recipes. Type your question and the chat opens in the side panel.

What can you ask?

Weigh the answers together with their sources.

Ask Pisca AI

Pro membership

PRO MEMBERSHIP