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Sea fish

Sand steenbras

Lithognathus mormyrus

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

Other names: Çizgili mercan

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Sand steenbras
Julien Renoult (Wikimedia Commons) · source
Habitat
Sandy shore
Method
Surf casting · Bottom fishing
Family
Sparidae

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Where is Sand steenbras caught?

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Aegean Sea fishing spots

253
Aegean Sea
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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Aegean Sea

Season and suitable conditions

Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.

  • Wind

    3–18 km/h

    Light onshore

  • Water temperature

    17–26 °C

  • Pressure

    1010–1022 hPa

  • Wave

    0,2–0,8 m

General ranges for the species; not live weather. No guarantee of a catch.

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. 33 Jan
  2. 32 Feb
  3. 32 Mar
  4. 59 Apr
  5. 76 May
  6. 91 Jun
  7. 89 Jul
  8. 88 Aug
  9. 89 Sep
  10. 79 Oct
  11. 75 Nov
  12. 58 Dec

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

  1. Alanya Limanı Dış Kıyısı Alanya, Antalya 88/100 Very good
  2. Karacabey Boğazı Karacabey, Bursa 88/100 Very good
  3. Cam Teras Adalar, İstanbul 88/100 Very good
  4. Güzelhisar Çayı Aliağa, İzmir 88/100 Very good
  5. Armutlu Belediyesi Kadınlar Plajı Armutlu, Yalova 88/100 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 70

    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 75
  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 70 70 65 65 65 65 70 70 65
Midday 30 30 30 20 20 20 20 30
Dusk 75 75 75 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 75
Night 55 55 55 85 85 95 95 95 95 85 85 55

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 medium

Habitat

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

Depth

0–150 m

mostly 10–20 m

Water temperature

12.7–29.4 °C

ideal 17.8–25.2 °C

Salinity

Full-strength seawater

18.7–39.3 ‰

Shore types

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

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand
  • Seagrass

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

Processed bait (all year)

  • Dough

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: Diopatra tube worm · 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: Natural brown, Red
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Diopatra tube worm · 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: Pink, White, Red
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Diopatra tube worm · 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: Fluorescent
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Razor clam · 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: Fluorescent, Glow (UV)
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Razor clam · 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: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
February
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
March
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
April
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
May
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
June
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
July
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
August
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
September
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
October
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
November
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Shrimp Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, Metal jig
December
Natural baits: Diopatra tube worm, Mud shrimp, Razor clam, Mussel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Jighead + soft worm, 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

In this region · Aegean Sea

Natural bait:
mamun, tubeworm, sülünez; regional support: European sardine / mamun / sülünez
Lure:
soft plastic worm
Technique:
Surf Casting

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
Sülünez
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 Greece

Greece

Minimum size
20 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg

Closed season: Tür/alan/dönem için daha sıkı kural olabilir

Legal basis: EU 2019/1241 Ek IX + Yunan ulusal mevzuatı communiqué text

Species size/quantity limit

EU 2019/1241 Ek IX + Yunan ulusal mevzuatı

AB asgari boy + Yunan Sahil Güvenliği genel günlük miktar çerçevesi; resmî güncel metin kontrol edilir

The table in our records

Minimum size
20 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg
Closed season
Tür/alan/dönem için daha sıkı kural olabilir

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

Sand steenbras
Scientific name
Lithognathus mormyrus
Family
Sparidae
Order
Eupercaria incertae sedis
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Mırmır, Çizgili mercan

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Sand steenbras?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Sand steenbras is 20 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: EU 2019/1241 Ek IX + Yunan ulusal mevzuatı.

Which seas is Sand steenbras found in?

In our records Sand steenbras appears in these seas: Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic — Albania, Ionian Sea — Albania, Bay of Vlorë — Albania, North Aegean & Thrace — Greece, Central & South Aegean — Greece, Ionian Sea — Greece, Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece, 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, Adriatic — Croatia, Mediterranean — France, Atlantic — France.

In which months is Sand steenbras 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 all year; Aegean Sea all year; Mediterranean all year; Sardinian Sea — Italy May–September; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece October–April; Central & South Aegean — Greece October–April; Ionian Sea — Greece October–April; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece September–June; 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 May–September; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy May–September; Strait of Sicily — Italy May–September; Adriatic — Italy May–September; Ionian Sea — Italy May–September; Mediterranean — Spain May–September; Alboran Sea — Spain May–September; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain May–September; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain May–September; Cantabrian Sea — Spain April–August; Atlantic Ocean — Spain June–October; Balearic Sea — Spain May–September; Adriatic — Croatia May–October; Atlantic — France June–September; Mediterranean — France June–September.

Which bait is Sand steenbras caught with?

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

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