Skip to content
Piscatorium
Sign in

Sea fish

Tub gurnard

Chelidonichthys lucerna

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

Other names: Mazak

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Tub gurnard
Julien Renoult (Wikimedia Commons) · source
Habitat
Sandy · muddy bottom
Method
Bottom fishing · Jigging
Family
Triglidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Tub gurnard caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

South West coast fishing spots

131
South West coast
Map preview

Explore the coast on the map

Open map

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: Jun, Jul, Aug

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. 59 Jan
  2. 58 Feb
  3. 59 Mar
  4. 60 Apr
  5. 0 May
  6. 0 Jun
  7. 0 Jul
  8. 0 Aug
  9. 52 Sep
  10. 57 Oct
  11. 59 Nov
  12. 60 Dec

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

  1. Aya Nikola Halk Plajı Adalar, İstanbul 69/100 Good
  2. Enez Limanı Dış Kıyısı Enez, Edirne 68/100 Good
  3. Mıhlı Çayı Edremit, Balıkesir 67/100 Good
  4. Zeus Beach Ayvacık, Çanakkale 67/100 Good
  5. Cinlipınar Deresi Urla, İzmir 66/100 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 80

    0.5 h before sunrise → 3 h after

  2. Midday 70

    2 h before midday → 2 h after

  3. Dusk 75

    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 30
  2. First quarter 30
  3. Full moon 35
  4. Last quarter 30

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 65 65 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 65
Midday 75 75 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 75
Dusk 65 65 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 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.

7 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

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

Depth

0–318 m

mostly 20–100 m

Water temperature

2.5–27.8 °C

ideal 10.2–19.6 °C

Salinity

Full-strength seawater

15–39.2 ‰

Shore types

  • Sandy beach
  • Cove / inner bay
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Mixed shore
  • Shingle shore
  • River / stream mouth
  • Lagoon / weir mouth
  • Inside harbours
  • Harbour mouth

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand
  • Sand and gravel
  • Gravel

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

Bottom scent / lateral-line hunter — Searches the bottom with barbels, smell and lateral line. Has the edge in murky water.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Anchovy · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or very fresh worm, shrimp, mole crab; small hidden hook; sunset and night first. First lure: Jighead + soft worm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Only where it is known to work locally: scented soft plastic or worm, dragged slowly along the bottom. Colour: Clear, Blue-green back
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Anchovy · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm and shrimp; fresh mussel. First lure: Jighead + soft worm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic; bead attractor (for flatfish). Colour: Clear, Pink, Blue-green back
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Anchovy · Very suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, mussel, sardine; worm and squid cocktail; the most productive water. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic with scent gel; bead attractor. Colour: Pink
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Anchovy · Very suitable Usually in this water: Heavy scent: a cocktail (worm with squid or fish), crab; on the bottom. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Suitable Usually in this water: Not recommended; if you must, scented soft plastic. Colour: Pink
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Anchovy · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish and worm cocktail, crab; big pieces, refreshed often. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Weak
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Mackerel, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft worm, Scented soft plastic, Bombarda + fly, Metal jig
February
Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Mackerel, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft worm, Scented soft plastic, Bombarda + fly, Metal jig
March
Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Mackerel, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft worm, Scented soft plastic, Bombarda + fly, Metal jig
April
Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Mackerel, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft worm, Scented soft plastic, Bombarda + fly, Metal jig
May
Out of season
June
Out of season
July
Out of season
August
Out of season
September
Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Mackerel, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft worm, Scented soft plastic, Metal jig
October
Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Mackerel, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft worm, Scented soft plastic, Metal jig
November
Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Mackerel, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft worm, Scented soft plastic, Metal jig
December
Natural baits: Horse mackerel, Anchovy, Mackerel, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft worm, Scented soft plastic, Metal 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 high, lures high. Colour and presentation guide

Fishing technique

Fishing rules for Türkiye

Türkiye

Minimum size
18 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

MVT0018

2024/21 Çizelge 7

No additional species note; the general provisions of 2024/21 apply No species-based time closure is stated; the area and method provisions are reserved

The table in our records

Minimum size
18 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

Tub gurnard
Scientific name
Chelidonichthys lucerna
Family
Triglidae
Order
Perciformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Black Sea
Other names
Kırlangıç, Mazak

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Tub gurnard?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Tub gurnard is 18 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

When is Tub gurnard closed to fishing?

There is no closed season specific to Tub gurnard — 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: 18 cm. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Tub gurnard found in?

In our records Tub gurnard appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Ligurian Sea — Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy, Adriatic — Italy, Ionian Sea — Italy, Strait of Sicily — Italy, Sardinian Sea — Italy, Atlantic Ocean — Spain, Cantabrian Sea — Spain, Gulf of Cádiz — Spain, North East coast — England, East coast — England, South East coast — England, South coast — England, South West coast — England, North West coast — England, Black Sea — Bulgaria, Black Sea — Romania.

In which months is Tub gurnard at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Sea of Marmara March–November; Aegean Sea March–November; Mediterranean February–October; Black Sea all year; Ligurian Sea — Italy March, April, May, September, October, November; Sardinian Sea — Italy March, April, October, November; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy March, April, October, November; Strait of Sicily — Italy March, April, October, November; Adriatic — Italy March, April, May, September, October, November; Ionian Sea — Italy March, April, October, November; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain March, April, May, September, October, November; Cantabrian Sea — Spain February, March, April, August, September, October; Atlantic Ocean — Spain February, March, April, August, September, October; Black Sea — Bulgaria September–October; Black Sea — Romania September–October; North East coast — England June–August; East coast — England June–August; South East coast — England June–August; South coast — England June–August; South West coast — England June–August; North West coast — England June–August.

Which bait is Tub gurnard caught with?

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

Similar species

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

Open fishing grounds on the map
Open fishing grounds on the map · 673 fishing grounds

Pisca AI

Members only

Ask about this species

Tub gurnard · Chelidonichthys lucerna

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