Sea fish
Mutton snapper
Lutjanus analis
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Resif · sığlık · iskele
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active day and night
- Good at night
In October
-
Dawn Best 80
1 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 45
1 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 75
1.5 h before sunset → 1 h after
-
Night 80
1 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 55
- Full moon 75
- Last quarter 55
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 | 70 | 70 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 80 | 70 |
| Midday | 65 | 65 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 45 | 45 | 65 |
| Dusk | 70 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 75 | 75 | 70 |
| Night | 65 | 65 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 80 | 65 |
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
0–95 m
mostly 40–70 m
Water temperature
11.9–32.4 °C
ideal 23.5–28.2 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
19–38 ‰
Shore types
- Cove / inner bay
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Lagoon / weir mouth
- Channel / strait link
- Inside harbours
- Harbour mouth
- 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 October
Lures
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: Pinfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or a live small fish; thin leader; dawn, dusk and night first. First lure: Feathered spoon · Suitable Usually in this water: Natural-coloured soft shad/minnow, LRF, slim hard lure; slow and natural. Colour: Natural brown, Silver, Clear
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Pinfish · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, fresh sardine pieces. First lure: Feathered spoon · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow, jighead + shad, stickbait. Colour: White, Silver, Blue-green back
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, or a piece of oily fish; one size bigger. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Paddle-tail shad, vibe, spinner; vibration first. Colour: White, Fluorescent, Gold
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, crab, cut bait; on the bottom or at mid-depth; chum. First lure: Metal jig · Weak Usually in this water: Rattling vibe, scented soft plastic; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Dark silhouette, Red, Fluorescent
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Ballyhoo · Suitable Usually in this water: The strongest scent: fish guts, cut mackerel or sardine, mussel; big pieces. First lure: Metal jig · Not recommended Usually in this water: Not recommended; if you must, scented and rattling. Colour: Dark silhouette
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Ballyhoo, Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- February
- Natural baits: Ballyhoo, Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- March
- Natural baits: Ballyhoo, Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- April
- Natural baits: Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- May
- Natural baits: Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- June
- Natural baits: Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- July
- Natural baits: Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- August
- Natural baits: Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- September
- Natural baits: Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- October
- Natural baits: Ballyhoo, Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- November
- Natural baits: Ballyhoo, Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, Metal jig
- December
- Natural baits: Ballyhoo, Pinfish, Pilchard, Shrimp Lures: Feathered spoon, 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 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
- Lutjanus analis
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Mutton snapper
