Catching Atlantic horse mackerel

Atlantic horse mackerel

Trachurus trachurus

İstavrit

Karagöz istavrit

Peak this month Minimum size 13 cm

Family

Carangidae

Order

Carangiformes

Habitat

piers and open water

Seas

Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean

Bait

shrimp, anchovy piece · sabiki, micro jig

Technique

sabiki, LRF

Legal status

Türkiye

Minimum size: 13 cm
Maximum quantity: 5 kg

Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7 communiqué text

Greece

Minimum size: 15 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

Where is Atlantic horse mackerel caught?

Peak months by sea.

Black Sea

peak this month

Natural bait: shrimp, European anchovy chunk; regional support: European anchovy / European sprat
Lure: sabiki, micro jig
Technique: Sabiki Rig

Peak condition range

Wind: 0–18 km/h
Wind direction: offshore or cross-shore
Water temperature: 12–23 °C
Pressure: 1010–1023 hPa
Wave: 0,1–0,8 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Sea of Marmara

peak this month

Natural bait: shrimp, European anchovy chunk; regional support: European anchovy / Atlantic horse mackerel / shrimp
Lure: sabiki, micro jig
Technique: Sabiki Rig

Peak condition range

Wind: 0–18 km/h
Wind direction: offshore or cross-shore
Water temperature: 12–23 °C
Pressure: 1010–1023 hPa
Wave: 0,1–0,8 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Aegean Sea

peak this month

Natural bait: shrimp, European anchovy chunk; regional support: European sardine / mamun / sülünez
Lure: sabiki, micro jig
Technique: Sabiki Rig

Peak condition range

Wind: 0–18 km/h
Wind direction: offshore or cross-shore
Water temperature: 12–23 °C
Pressure: 1010–1023 hPa
Wave: 0,1–0,8 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Mediterranean

peak this month

Natural bait: shrimp, European anchovy chunk; regional support: European sardine / European squid / shrimp
Lure: sabiki, micro jig
Technique: Sabiki Rig

Peak condition range

Wind: 0–18 km/h
Wind direction: offshore or cross-shore
Water temperature: 12–23 °C
Pressure: 1010–1023 hPa
Wave: 0,1–0,8 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Bait and technique

Habitat

piers and open water

Fishing technique

sabiki, LRF

Natural baits

shrimp, anchovy piece

Lures

sabiki, micro jig

Tackle recipe

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.

Sabiki Rig

Sabiki / multi-hook rig

A multi-hook feathered rig for shoaling fish

Level: Beginner
Effort: Low–Moderate

Rod: 2.40–3.60 m; 20–80 g
Reel: 3000–5000
Main line: 0.22–0.35 mm mono or PE 0.8–1.5
Leader/trace: Ready-made trace 0.18–0.30 mm
Hook/lure: Max 15 hooks
Bait/lure: Feathered sabiki
Connector: Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain
Rod: 2.40–3.60 m; 20–80 g
Reel: 3000–5000
Main line: 0.22–0.35 mm mono or PE 0.8–1.5
Leader/trace: Ready-made trace 0.18–0.30 mm
Hook/lure: Max 15 hooks
Bait/lure: YEM0033
Connector: Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Multiple-hook injury

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

Sabiki Rig

Sabiki / multi-hook rig

A multi-hook feathered rig for shoaling fish

Level: Beginner
Effort: Low–Moderate

Watch out: Multiple-hook injury

Regulations: Güncel Yunanistan ve AB mevzuatı kontrol edilir

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: YEM0025
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

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Atlantic horse mackerel?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Atlantic horse mackerel is 13 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

When is Atlantic horse mackerel closed to fishing?

There is no closed season specific to Atlantic horse mackerel — the regulations set no time ban for this species. Area and gear rules still apply. The limit that applies all year is the minimum size: 13 cm. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Atlantic horse mackerel found in?

In our records Atlantic horse mackerel 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, 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.

In which months is Atlantic horse mackerel at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: 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; Aegean Sea all year; Mediterranean all year; Mediterranean — Spain March, April, May, October, November; Ligurian Sea — Italy March, April, May, October, November; Sardinian Sea — Italy March, April, October, November; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy March, April, October, November; Adriatic — Italy March, April, May, October, November; Strait of Sicily — Italy March, April, October, November; Ionian Sea — Italy March, April, October, November; Alboran Sea — Spain March, April, October, November; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain March, April, October, November; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain March, April, May, October, November; Cantabrian Sea — Spain February, March, April, September, October; Atlantic Ocean — Spain February, March, April, September, October; Balearic Sea — Spain March, April, May, October, November.

Which bait is Atlantic horse mackerel caught with?

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