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Sea fish

Shi drum

Umbrina cirrosa

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

Other names: Kötek · Gölge balığı

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Shi drum
(c) Julien Renoult, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Habitat
Sandy ground · estuary
Method
Bottom fishing · Surf casting
Family
Sciaenidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Shi drum caught?

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Tyrrhenian Sea fishing spots

256
Tyrrhenian Sea
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Explore the coast on the map

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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, Sep, Oct

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. 37 Jan
  2. 33 Feb
  3. 33 Mar
  4. 45 Apr
  5. 70 May
  6. 67 Jun
  7. 50 Jul
  8. 43 Aug
  9. 62 Sep
  10. 80 Oct
  11. 75 Nov
  12. 51 Dec

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

  1. Akbük Halk Plajı Didim, Aydın 92/100 Very good
  2. Duba Plajı Ayvalık, Balıkesir 92/100 Very good
  3. Kadırga Koyu Sahili Ayvacık, Çanakkale 92/100 Very good
  4. Enez Limanı Dış Kıyısı Enez, Edirne 92/100 Very good
  5. Güzelhisar Çayı Aliağa, İzmir 92/100 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 night
  • Good at night

In October

  1. Dawn 65

    1 h before sunrise → 1.5 h after

  2. Midday 20

    1 h before midday → 1 h after

  3. Dusk Best 85

    1.5 h before sunset → 2 h after

  4. Night 85

    1 h after sunset → 1.5 h before sunrise

Moon phase

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

  1. New moon 70
  2. First quarter 65
  3. Full moon 55
  4. Last quarter 65

Best phase: New moon

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 65 65 65 65 65 55 55 55 55 65 65 65
Midday 35 35 35 20 20 20 20 35
Dusk 85 85 85 85 85 80 80 80 80 85 85 85
Night 80 80 80 85 85 90 90 90 90 85 85 80

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.

3 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

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

Depth

0–100 m

mostly 0–30 m

Water temperature

13.5–24.3 °C

ideal 21.5 °C

Salinity

Also enters brackish water

4–40 ‰

Shore types

  • Sandy beach
  • Delta / alluvial shore
  • Cove / inner bay
  • Rocky shore
  • Mixed shore
  • Shingle shore
  • River / stream mouth
  • Lagoon / weir mouth
  • Harbour mouth

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand
  • 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

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 bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or very fresh worm, shrimp, mole crab; small hidden hook; sunset and night first. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · 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: Natural brown, Red
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm and shrimp; fresh mussel. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic; bead attractor (for flatfish). Colour: Pink, White, Red
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, mussel, sardine; worm and squid cocktail; the most productive water. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic with scent gel; bead attractor. Colour: Glow (UV)
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · 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: Glow (UV)
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish and worm cocktail, crab; big pieces, refreshed often. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Weak Colour: Glow (UV)
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Razor clam, Shrimp, Diopatra tube worm, Cuttlefish Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
February
Natural baits: Razor clam, Shrimp, Diopatra tube worm, Cuttlefish Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
March
Natural baits: Razor clam, Diopatra tube worm, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
April
Natural baits: Razor clam, Diopatra tube worm, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
May
Natural baits: Razor clam, Diopatra tube worm, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
June
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
July
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
August
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
September
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
October
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
November
Natural baits: Razor clam, Shrimp, Diopatra tube worm Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp
December
Natural baits: Razor clam, Shrimp, Diopatra tube worm Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Soft shrimp

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

Tackle recipe

Surf Casting

Long-range bottom fishing

Long-range bottom fishing with natural bait on sandy/mixed shores

  • Level: Beginner–Advanced
  • Effort: High
Rod
3.90–4.50 m; 100–250 g
Reel
5000–14000 surf
Main line
0.25–0.35 mm + shock leader
Leader/trace
0.45–0.70 mm shock/trace
Hook/lure
#8–2/0 to suit the target
Bait/lure
European squid strip
Connector
Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Casting safety with heavy leads

Keep with you: Pliers, hook remover, glasses and first aid

Regulations: Communiqué 2024/21 Article 16 hook and line limits and place bans are checked

  • Rod

  • Reel

  • Line and leader

A setup to start from. Rod length, line diameter and drag are changed to suit the size of fish you are after and the current and bottom structure of the ground.

See tackle suggestions

Fishing rules for Türkiye

Türkiye

Minimum size
45 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

MVT0029

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
45 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

Shi drum
Scientific name
Umbrina cirrosa
Family
Sciaenidae
Order
Eupercaria incertae sedis
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Black Sea
Other names
Minekop, Kötek, Gölge balığı

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Shi drum?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Shi drum is 45 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

When is Shi drum closed to fishing?

There is no closed season specific to Shi drum — 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: 45 cm. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Shi drum found in?

In our records Shi drum appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic — Albania, Ionian Sea — Albania, Bay of Vlorë — Albania, 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 Shi drum at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Ionian Sea — Albania May–October; Adriatic — Albania May–October; Bay of Vlorë — Albania May–October; Sea of Marmara March, April, May, September, October, November, December; Aegean Sea March, April, May, September, October, November, December; Mediterranean February, March, April, August, September, October, November; Black Sea all year; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy April, May, September, October; Mediterranean — Spain April, May, September, October; Ligurian Sea — Italy April, May, September, October; Sardinian Sea — Italy April, May, September, October; Adriatic — Italy April, May, September, October; Strait of Sicily — Italy April, May, September, October; Ionian Sea — Italy April, May, September, October; Alboran Sea — Spain April, May, September, October; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain April, May, September, October; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain April, May, September, October; Cantabrian Sea — Spain March, April, August, September; Atlantic Ocean — Spain March, April, August, September; Balearic Sea — Spain April, May, September, October.

Which bait is Shi drum caught with?

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

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Open fishing grounds on the map
Open fishing grounds on the map · 1,081 fishing grounds

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