Sea fish
Atlantic Spanish mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
Other names: Spanish mackerel
- Habitat
- Iskele · kumsal · pelajik · açık su
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active by day
- Poor at night
In November
-
Dawn Best 95
1 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 55
1 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 75
1.5 h before sunset → 1 h after
Not productive at night
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 15
- First quarter 15
- Full moon 20
- Last quarter 15
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 | 85 | 85 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 | 95 | 85 |
| Midday | 75 | 75 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 55 | 55 | 75 |
| Dusk | 70 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 75 | 75 | 70 |
| 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 high
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
0–35 m
mostly 2–35 m
Water temperature
12.5–31 °C
ideal 21–27 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
18.9–37.4 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Cove / inner bay
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Headland
- Channel / strait link
- 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 November
Lures
- Gotcha plug
- Spoon
- Metal jig
- Small white jig
By water clarity
Pelagic sight hunter — Chases baitfish shoals by sight. Lures shine in clear water; in murky water its hunting range shrinks.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Glass minnow · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live baitfish or a whole fresh fish; thin fluorocarbon leader, no float or a light one. First lure: Small white jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow/stickbait, slim metal jig; fast, erratic retrieve. Colour: Silver, White
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Glass minnow · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or fresh whole fish; normal size. First lure: Small white jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spoon, metal jig, popper/topwater; medium-fast retrieve. Colour: White, Silver
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Cut oily fish (sardine/mackerel) with chum; under a float or at mid-depth. First lure: Gotcha plug · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spinner, paddle-tail shad, metal jig one size up; vibration first. Colour: White, Silver
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish fillet, bloody chunks; chum for a scent trail; fish slower. First lure: Gotcha plug · Suitable Usually in this water: If you must, a rattling vibe/lipless; near the bottom, slow. Colour: White
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: A large, bloody chunk of oily fish; refresh the bait often. Catches usually drop. First lure: Gotcha plug · Not recommended Colour: Colour does not matter
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Spoon, Small white jig, Gotcha plug
- February
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Spoon, Small white jig, Gotcha plug
- March
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug, Spoon, Metal jig, Small white jig
- April
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug, Spoon, Metal jig, Small white jig
- May
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug, Spoon, Metal jig, Small white jig
- June
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug, Spoon, Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
- July
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug, Spoon, Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
- August
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug, Spoon, Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
- September
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug, Spoon, Metal jig, Small white jig
- October
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug, Spoon, Metal jig, Small white jig
- November
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug, Spoon, Metal jig, Small white jig
- December
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Glass minnow, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Spoon, Small white jig, Gotcha plug
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
- Scomberomorus maculatus
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Spanish mackerel
