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Sea fish

Thicklip grey mullet

Chelon labrosus

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

Other names: Dudaklı kefal

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Thicklip grey mullet
Roberto Pillon (Wikimedia Commons) · source
Family
Mugilidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Thicklip grey mullet caught?

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South West coast fishing spots

131
South West coast
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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

South West coast

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 November

By month

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

  1. 36 Jan
  2. 35 Feb
  3. 61 Mar
  4. 66 Apr
  5. 69 May
  6. 63 Jun
  7. 60 Jul
  8. 58 Aug
  9. 61 Sep
  10. 63 Oct
  11. 63 Nov
  12. 55 Dec

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

  1. Limanağzı Kaş, Antalya 80/100 Very good
  2. Karareis Deresi Karaburun, İzmir 80/100 Very good
  3. İbrice Limanı Dış Kıyısı Keşan, Edirne 79/100 Very good
  4. Turgutreis Bodrum, Muğla 79/100 Very good
  5. Mavişehir Sahili Didim, Aydın 73/100 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
  • Limited at night

In November

  1. Dawn Best 85

    0.5 h before sunrise → 2.5 h after

  2. Midday 60

    1.5 h before midday → 2 h after

  3. Dusk 80

    2 h before sunset → 1 h after

Not productive at night

Moon phase

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

  1. New moon 40
  2. First quarter 45
  3. Full moon 50
  4. Last quarter 45

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 55 55 80 80 80 90 90 90 85 85 85 55
Midday 85 85 65 65 65 25 25 25 60 60 60 85
Dusk 65 65 75 75 75 80 80 80 80 80 80 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.

5 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

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

Depth

2–15 m

mostly 2–15 m

Water temperature

0.1–30.4 °C

ideal 22 °C

Salinity

Migrates between fresh and salt water

0–116 ‰

Shore types

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

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Seaweed

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

Natural baits

Lures

Processed bait (all year)

  • Bread

By water clarity

Herbivore / detritivore — Eats weed, algae and bottom mud. Rarely takes a lure.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Insect larva · Very suitable Usually in this water: Weed, sea lettuce, worm; very fine tackle; chum. First lure: Fly · Very suitable Usually in this water: Only where it is known to work locally: weed or bread imitation fly, micro soft plastic. Colour: Clear
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Insect larva · Very suitable Usually in this water: Weed, worm; chum. First lure: Fly · Very suitable Usually in this water: Where it is known to work locally, a bread or weed fly. Colour: Clear
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm with chum; stream or channel mouths. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Suitable
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Sardine · Suitable Usually in this water: Worm, fish guts; chum; mullet feed in murky stream mouths. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Weak
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Sardine · Suitable Usually in this water: Worm, fish guts; chum. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Not recommended
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
February
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
March
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
April
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
May
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
June
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
July
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
August
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
September
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
October
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
November
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic
December
Natural baits: Ragworm, Sardine, Insect larva, Lugworm Lures: Fly, LRF micro soft plastic

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 medium. Colour and presentation guide

Fishing rules for Türkiye

Türkiye

Minimum size
20 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg

Single-species or mixed total; details and exceptions are in the regulation.

No species-specific closed season is listed; area and method rules still apply.

Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7 communiqué text

MVT0014

2024/21 Çizelge 7

Species group No species-based time closure is stated; the area and method provisions are reserved

The table in our records

Minimum size
20 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg

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

Thicklip grey mullet
Scientific name
Chelon labrosus
Family
Mugilidae
Order
Mugiliformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Kalın dudaklı kefal, Dudaklı kefal

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Thicklip grey mullet?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Thicklip grey mullet is 20 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

When is Thicklip grey mullet closed to fishing?

There is no closed season specific to Thicklip grey mullet — 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: 20 cm. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Thicklip grey mullet found in?

In our records Thicklip grey mullet appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, 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 East coast — England, East coast — England, South East coast — England, South coast — England, South West coast — England, North West coast — England, North Sea — Netherlands, North Sea — Belgium, South coast — Norway, West coast — Norway, West coast — Sweden, South coast — Sweden, North Sea — Denmark, Kattegat and Skagerrak — Denmark, Baltic Sea — Denmark.

In which months is Thicklip grey mullet at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Sea of Marmara all year; Güzelyurt Bay — Northern Cyprus December–February; Kyrenia north coast — Northern Cyprus December–February; Black Sea all year; Aegean Sea all year; Karpas Peninsula — Northern Cyprus December–February; Mediterranean all year; Famagusta–İskele — Northern Cyprus December–February; Paphos–Limassol south coast — Southern Cyprus December–February; Ayia Napa–Protaras — Southern Cyprus December–February; Akamas–Paphos west coast — Southern Cyprus December–February; Larnaca southeast coast — Southern Cyprus December–February; Sardinian Sea — Italy March, April, October; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy March, April, October; Ligurian Sea — Italy March, April, May, September, October; Adriatic — Italy March, April, May, September, October; Strait of Sicily — Italy March, April, October; Ionian Sea — Italy March, April, October; Mediterranean — Spain March, April, May, September, October; Alboran Sea — Spain March, April, October; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain March, April, May, September, October; Cantabrian Sea — Spain February, March, April, August, September; Atlantic Ocean — Spain February, March, April, August, September; Balearic Sea — Spain March, April, May, September, October; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain March, April, May, September, October; North East coast — England all year; East coast — England all year; South East coast — England all year; South coast — England all year; South West coast — England all year; North West coast — England all year; North Sea — Netherlands June–September; North Sea — Belgium June–September; South coast — Norway June–September; West coast — Norway June–September; South coast — Sweden June–September; West coast — Sweden June–September; North Sea — Denmark June–August; Kattegat and Skagerrak — Denmark June–September; Baltic Sea — Denmark June–September.

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