Sea fish
King mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Iskele · pelajik · açık su
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active by day
- Poor at night
In October
-
Dawn Best 95
1 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 40
1 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 70
1.5 h before sunset → 1 h after
Not productive at night
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 10
- First quarter 10
- Full moon 15
- Last quarter 10
Best phase: Full moon
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 85 | 85 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 | 95 | 85 |
| Midday | 60 | 60 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 60 | ||||
| Dusk | 65 | 65 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 70 | 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.
4 sources · confidence high
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
3–140 m
mostly 5–15 m
Water temperature
11.5–32.2 °C
ideal 22–28 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
21.5–38.3 ‰
Shore types
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Headland
- Channel / strait link
- Harbour mouth
- Reclaimed shore
- Shoal / reef
Bottom
Lives in open water
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
Lures
By water clarity
Pelagic sight hunter — Chases baitfish shoals by sight. Lures shine in clear water; in murky water its hunting range shrinks.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Mullet · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live baitfish or a whole fresh fish; thin fluorocarbon leader, no float or a light one. First lure: Gotcha plug · Suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow/stickbait, slim metal jig; fast, erratic retrieve. Colour: Blue-green back, Silver, White
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Mullet · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or fresh whole fish; normal size. First lure: Gotcha plug · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spoon, metal jig, popper/topwater; medium-fast retrieve. Colour: Silver, White, Blue-green back, Pink
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Mullet · Very suitable Usually in this water: Cut oily fish (sardine/mackerel) with chum; under a float or at mid-depth. First lure: Gotcha plug · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spinner, paddle-tail shad, metal jig one size up; vibration first. Colour: White, Fluorescent, Gold
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Mullet · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish fillet, bloody chunks; chum for a scent trail; fish slower. First lure: Gotcha plug · Suitable Usually in this water: If you must, a rattling vibe/lipless; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Fluorescent, Dark silhouette
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Mullet · Suitable Usually in this water: A large, bloody chunk of oily fish; refresh the bait often. Catches usually drop. First lure: Gotcha plug · Not recommended Colour: Colour does not matter
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Out of season
- February
- Out of season
- March
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
- April
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
- May
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
- June
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
- July
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
- August
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
- September
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
- October
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
- November
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
- December
- Natural baits: Blue runner, Menhaden, Mullet, Herring Lures: Gotcha plug
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 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
- Scomberomorus cavalla
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- King mackerel
