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Sea fish

Blotched picarel

Spicara maena

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

Other names: Benekli izmarit

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Blotched picarel
(c) Donald Davesne, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Family
Sparidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Blotched picarel caught?

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Tyrrhenian Sea fishing spots

201
Tyrrhenian Sea
Map preview

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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Tyrrhenian Sea

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep

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. 30 Jan
  2. 28 Feb
  3. 28 Mar
  4. 46 Apr
  5. 70 May
  6. 69 Jun
  7. 49 Jul
  8. 41 Aug
  9. 52 Sep
  10. 67 Oct
  11. 67 Nov
  12. 41 Dec

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

  1. D-Marin Didim The Blue Point Beach Club Didim, Aydın 80/100 Very good
  2. Ayaz Beach Burhaniye, Balıkesir 80/100 Very good
  3. Denizköy Plajı Dikili, İzmir 80/100 Very good
  4. Hayıtbükü Koyu Datça, Muğla 80/100 Very good
  5. Günbatımı İzleme Noktası Bozcaada, Çanakkale 79/100 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 dawn and dusk
  • Poor at night

In November

  1. Dawn Best 85

    1 h before sunrise → 2 h after

  2. Midday 60

    1 h before midday → 1.5 h after

  3. Dusk 85

    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 15
  2. First quarter 15
  3. Full moon 20
  4. Last quarter 15

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 80 80 80 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 80
Midday 65 65 65 60 60 40 40 40 40 60 60 65
Dusk 80 80 80 85 85 80 80 80 80 85 85 80
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

5–130 m

mostly 30–90 m

Water temperature

14.6–23.1 °C

ideal 17.7–21.6 °C

Salinity

Full-strength seawater

15.6–39.8 ‰

Shore types

  • Cove / inner bay
  • Rocky shore
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Headland
  • Cliff / steep shore
  • Reclaimed shore
  • Shoal / reef

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand
  • Rock
  • Seagrass

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 November

Natural baits

Lures

By water clarity

Rock / bottom omnivore — Picks up crustaceans, worms and weed. Wary; relies on smell and a natural look.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp, tube worm, mud shrimp, mussel; thin line, small hidden hook; little chum. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: LRF micro soft plastic, imitation shrimp; very small, slow. Colour: Clear, Natural brown, Red
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Shrimp, worm, mussel; normal pieces. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: LRF/micro soft plastic, imitation shrimp. Colour: Pink, White, Red
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Mussel, crab, sardine pieces with chum (crushed mussel or bread). First lure: Sabiki rig · Suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic (Isome/Gulp type); slow, on the bottom. Colour: Fluorescent, Pink
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Crab, mussel, razor clam; bottom rig; strong scent. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Weak Usually in this water: Weak; scented soft plastic only. Colour: Fluorescent, Dark silhouette, Red
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Mussel, crab, cut bait; big pieces. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Not recommended
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
February
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
March
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
April
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
May
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
June
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
July
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
August
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
September
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
October
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
November
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig
December
Natural baits: Razor clam, Sardine, Shrimp, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Sabiki rig

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

Blotched picarel
Scientific name
Spicara maena
Family
Sparidae
Order
Eupercaria incertae sedis
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Menekşe izmarit, Benekli izmarit

Frequently asked questions

Which seas is Blotched picarel found in?

In our records Blotched picarel appears in these seas: 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.

In which months is Blotched picarel at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Sardinian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September; Mediterranean — Spain April, May, June, September; 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; Ligurian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September; Adriatic — Italy April, May, June, September; Strait of Sicily — Italy April, May, June, September; Ionian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September; Alboran Sea — Spain April, May, June, September; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain April, May, June, September; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain April, May, June, September; Cantabrian Sea — Spain March, April, May, August; Atlantic Ocean — Spain March, April, May, August; Balearic Sea — Spain April, May, June, September.

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