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Sea fish

European squid

Loligo vulgaris

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

Other names: Avrupa kalamarı

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
European squid
(c) Karim Haddad, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Family
Loliginidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is European squid caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

South West coast fishing spots

274
South West coast
Map preview

Explore the coast on the map

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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

South West coast

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec

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. 80 Jan
  2. 77 Feb
  3. 71 Mar
  4. 49 Apr
  5. 0 May
  6. 2 Jun
  7. 2 Jul
  8. 2 Aug
  9. 55 Sep
  10. 65 Oct
  11. 77 Nov
  12. 79 Dec

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

  1. Avana Plajı Bozcaada, Çanakkale 78/100 Very good
  2. Paprika Beach Burhaniye, Balıkesir 77/100 Very good
  3. Sultaniçe Sahili Enez, Edirne 77/100 Very good
  4. Aliaport Aliağa, İzmir 77/100 Very good
  5. Altınkum Didim, Aydın 76/100 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 at night
  • Good at night

In October

  1. Dawn 70

    1.5 h before sunrise → 0.5 h after

  2. Dusk 90

    0.5 h before sunset → 2 h after

  3. Night Best 90

    1 h after sunset → 1 h before sunrise

Moon phase

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

  1. New moon 60
  2. First quarter 70
  3. Full moon 80
  4. Last quarter 65

Best phase: Full moon

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 65 65 60 60 60 55 55 55 70 70 70 65
Midday
Dusk 85 85 80 80 80 70 70 70 90 90 90 85
Night 90 90 85 85 85 75 75 75 90 90 90 90

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.

7 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

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

Depth

0–500 m

mostly 20–250 m

Water temperature

-0.9–31.3 °C

ideal 13–17 °C

Salinity

Full-strength seawater

30–39.5 ‰

Shore types

  • Cove / inner bay
  • Rocky shore
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Around marinas
  • Headland
  • Promenade / seafront
  • Inside harbours
  • Harbour mouth
  • Strait shore
  • Reclaimed shore

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand

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

By water clarity

Cephalopod — Squid and cuttlefish hunt with their large eyes; jigs (egi, totanara) are the main method. Octopus also uses touch and smell.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Lure First natural bait: Horse mackerel · Suitable Usually in this water: A whole horse mackerel or sardine tied onto a totanara (squid); for octopus, a jig with crab or fish tied on. First lure: Squid jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Egi/squid jig; slow sink, short jerks. Colour: Silver
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Lure First natural bait: Horse mackerel · Suitable Usually in this water: Totanara with fresh fish. First lure: Squid jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Egi; gold tape on cloudy days. Colour: Gold, Fluorescent, Pink
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Horse mackerel · Very suitable Usually in this water: Totanara with horse mackerel; tie crab or fish onto the octopus jig. First lure: Squid jig · Suitable Usually in this water: Egi one size up; red or gold tape. Colour: Red, Gold, Glow (UV)
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Horse mackerel · Suitable Usually in this water: Totanara with fresh fish; at night under lights. First lure: Squid jig · Suitable Usually in this water: Glow/UV egi; lighted totanara. Colour: Glow (UV), Red
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Horse mackerel · Suitable Usually in this water: Poor fishing; totanara with fish under lights. First lure: Squid jig · Weak Usually in this water: Glow egi. Colour: Glow (UV)

Night colour: Blue-green back, Pink, Fluorescent, Glow (UV) Day colour: Clear

12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig
February
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig
March
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig
April
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig
May
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig
June
Out of season
July
Out of season
August
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig
September
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig
October
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig
November
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig
December
Natural baits: Horse mackerel Lures: Squid jig

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

Tackle recipe

Eging

Squid and cuttlefish fishing

Fishing for cephalopods with egi-type lures

  • Level: Beginner–Advanced
  • Effort: Low–Moderate
Rod
2.40–2.70 m; EGI 2.0–3.5
Reel
2500–3000 shallow spool
Main line
PE 0.6–0.8
Leader/trace
0.25–0.33 mm fluorocarbon
Hook/lure
Egi crown hook
Bait/lure
Egi 1.5–2.2
Connector
Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Wet piers and ink splatter

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.

Tackle recipe

Eging

Squid and cuttlefish fishing

Fishing for cephalopods with egi-type lures

  • Level: Beginner–Advanced
  • Effort: Low–Moderate
Rod
2.40–2.70 m; EGI 2.0–3.5
Reel
2500–3000 shallow spool
Main line
PE 0.6–0.8
Leader/trace
0.25–0.33 mm fluorocarbon
Hook/lure
Egi crown hook
Bait/lure
Egi 3.5–4.0
Connector
Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Wet piers and ink splatter

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

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

European squid
Scientific name
Loligo vulgaris
Family
Loliginidae
Order
Myopsida
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Aegean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Kalamar, Avrupa kalamarı

Frequently asked questions

Which seas is European squid found in?

In our records European squid 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, Adriatic — Croatia, Mediterranean — France, Atlantic — France, Channel & North Sea — France, South East coast — England, South coast — England, South West coast — England.

In which months is European squid at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Sea of Marmara all year; Black Sea all year; Mediterranean all year; Ligurian Sea — Italy October–March; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece October–March; Central & South Aegean — Greece October–March; Ionian Sea — Greece October–March; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece September–March; 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; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy October–March; Strait of Sicily — Italy October–March; Ionian Sea — Italy October–March; Adriatic — Italy October–March; Sardinian Sea — Italy October–March; Mediterranean — Spain October–March; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain October–March; Cantabrian Sea — Spain September–February; Balearic Sea — Spain October–March; Atlantic Ocean — Spain November–April; Alboran Sea — Spain October–March; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain October–March; Adriatic — Croatia October–April; Atlantic — France November–March; Mediterranean — France March, November; Channel & North Sea — France November–March; South East coast — England November–February; South coast — England November–February; South West coast — England November–February.

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Open fishing grounds on the map
Open fishing grounds on the map · 3,851 fishing grounds

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