Sea fish
Dog snapper
Lutjanus jocu
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Resif · kayalık · yapay yapı
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active at night
- Good at night
In October
-
Dawn 70
1 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 25
1 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 80
1.5 h before sunset → 1 h after
-
Night Best 90
0.5 h after sunset → 1 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 70
- First quarter 60
- Full moon 65
- Last quarter 60
Best phase: New moon
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 60 | 60 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 70 | 60 |
| Midday | 45 | 45 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 45 | ||||
| Dusk | 75 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 80 | 75 |
| Night | 75 | 75 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 90 | 90 | 75 |
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
2–40 m
mostly 5–30 m
Water temperature
12.2–32.4 °C
ideal 24.2–28.2 °C
Salinity
Also enters brackish water
0–38 ‰
Shore types
- Delta / alluvial shore
- Cove / inner bay
- Rocky shore
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Headland
- River / stream mouth
- Cliff / steep shore
- Reclaimed shore
- Shoal / reef
Bottom
Lives close to the bottom
- Rock
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 October
Natural baits
By water clarity
Inshore / reef predator — Semi-pelagic; ambushes and chases. Good eyesight and a strong lateral line; takes both kinds of bait.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Live baitfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or a live small fish; thin leader; dawn, dusk and night first.
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Live baitfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, fresh sardine pieces.
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Live baitfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, or a piece of oily fish; one size bigger.
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Live baitfish · Suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, crab, cut bait; on the bottom or at mid-depth; chum.
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Live baitfish · Weak Usually in this water: The strongest scent: fish guts, cut mackerel or sardine, mussel; big pieces.
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- February
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- March
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- April
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- May
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- June
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- July
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- August
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- September
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- October
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- November
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
- December
- Natural baits: Live baitfish
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 low. 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
- Lutjanus jocu
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Dog snapper
