Skip to content
Piscatorium
Sign in

Sea fish

Comber

Serranus cabrilla

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

Other names: Hani balığı

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Comber
Diego Delso (Wikimedia Commons) · source
Habitat
Rocky bottom
Method
LRF · Bottom fishing
Family
Serranidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Comber caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

Adriatic fishing spots

1,155
Adriatic
Map preview

Explore the coast on the map

Open map

A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Adriatic

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 October

By month

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

  1. 60 Jan
  2. 59 Feb
  3. 59 Mar
  4. 73 Apr
  5. 75 May
  6. 68 Jun
  7. 68 Jul
  8. 67 Aug
  9. 68 Sep
  10. 75 Oct
  11. 65 Nov
  12. 62 Dec

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

  1. Barak Limanı Kaş, Antalya 92/100 Very good
  2. Altınkum Didim, Aydın 92/100 Very good
  3. Ayaz Beach Burhaniye, Balıkesir 92/100 Very good
  4. Avana Plajı Bozcaada, Çanakkale 92/100 Very good
  5. Sultaniçe Sahili Enez, Edirne 92/100 Very 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
  • Poor at night

In October

  1. Dawn Best 85

    0.5 h before sunrise → 3 h after

  2. Midday 60

    1 h before midday → 1.5 h after

  3. Dusk 85

    2.5 h before sunset → 0.5 h after

Not productive at night

Moon phase

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

  1. New moon 15
  2. First quarter 15
  3. Full moon 20
  4. Last quarter 15

Best phase: No clear effect

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 60 60 85 85 85 90 90 90 85 85 85 60
Midday 80 80 60 60 60 60 60 60 80
Dusk 65 65 80 80 80 85 85 85 85 85 85 65
Night

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

2–500 m

mostly 20–100 m

Water temperature

10.4–31.8 °C

ideal 17.8–27.6 °C

Salinity

Full-strength seawater

15.6–40.6 ‰

Shore types

  • Cove / inner bay
  • Rocky shore
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Headland
  • Mixed shore
  • Cliff / steep shore
  • Harbour mouth
  • Reclaimed shore
  • Shoal / reef

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand
  • Rock
  • Sand, gravel and rock
  • Seagrass

Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.

Confidence: shore type medium, 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

Natural baits

Lures

Most successful bait in user catches

By water clarity

Inshore / reef predator — Semi-pelagic; ambushes and chases. Good eyesight and a strong lateral line; takes both kinds of bait.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or a live small fish; thin leader; dawn, dusk and night first. First lure: Soft shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Natural-coloured soft shad/minnow, LRF, slim hard lure; slow and natural. Colour: Silver
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, fresh sardine pieces. First lure: Soft shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow, jighead + shad, stickbait. Colour: Silver
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, or a piece of oily fish; one size bigger. First lure: Vib / lipless · Very suitable Usually in this water: Paddle-tail shad, vibe, spinner; vibration first. Colour: Silver
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, crab, cut bait; on the bottom or at mid-depth; chum. First lure: Vib / lipless · Very suitable Usually in this water: Rattling vibe, scented soft plastic; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Dark silhouette, Red, Fluorescent
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: The strongest scent: fish guts, cut mackerel or sardine, mussel; big pieces. First lure: Vib / lipless · Weak Usually in this water: Not recommended; if you must, scented and rattling. Colour: Dark silhouette
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
February
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
March
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
April
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
May
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
June
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
July
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
August
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
September
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
October
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
November
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless
December
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Soft shrimp, Metal jig, Vib / lipless

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 technique

Tackle recipe

LRF

Light Rock Fishing

Small and medium shore species on light lures of about 1 – 12 g

  • Level: Beginner–Advanced
  • Effort: Low–Moderate
Rod
1.80–2.40 m; 0.5–10 g
Reel
1000–2500
Main line
PE 0.2–0.6 or 0.14–0.20 mm mono
Leader/trace
0.16–0.26 mm fluorocarbon
Hook/lure
Jighead #10–#2; 0.5–7 g
Bait/lure
Micro jig
Connector
Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Hooks, slippery ground and night visibility

Keep with you: Pliers, hook remover, glasses and first aid

Regulations: Communiqué 2024/21 Article 16 hook and line limits and place bans are checked

  • Rod

  • Reel

  • Line and leader

A setup to start from. Rod length, line diameter and drag are changed to suit the size of fish you are after and the current and bottom structure of the ground.

See tackle suggestions

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

Comber
Scientific name
Serranus cabrilla
Family
Serranidae
Order
Perciformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Mediterranean, Aegean Sea
Other names
Hani, Hani balığı

Frequently asked questions

Which seas is Comber found in?

In our records Comber appears in these seas: Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic — Albania, Ionian Sea — Albania, Bay of Vlorë — 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, Balearic Sea — Spain, Alboran Sea — Spain, Strait of Gibraltar — Spain, Adriatic — Croatia, Mediterranean — France.

In which months is Comber at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Ionian Sea — Albania May–October; Adriatic — Albania May–October; Bay of Vlorë — Albania May–October; Sea of Marmara April–November; Mediterranean March–October; Sardinian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Aegean Sea all year; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece March–November; Central & South Aegean — Greece March–November; Ionian Sea — Greece March–November; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece March–November; Mediterranean — Spain April, May, June, September, October; 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, May, June, September, October; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Adriatic — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Strait of Sicily — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Ionian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Alboran Sea — Spain April, May, June, September, October; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain April, May, June, September, October; Balearic Sea — Spain April, May, June, September, October; Atlantic Ocean — Spain May, June, July, October, November; Adriatic — Croatia all year; Mediterranean — France all year.

Which bait is Comber caught with?

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

Similar species

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

Open fishing grounds on the map
Open fishing grounds on the map · 2,546 fishing grounds

Pisca AI

Members only

Ask about this species

Comber · Serranus cabrilla

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