Piscatorium

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Atlantic bonito

Sarda sarda

Palamut
Kestane palamudu
torik

Peak this month Minimum size 25 cm

Family: Scombridae
Order: Scombriformes
Habitat: migratory pelagic
Seas: Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Black Sea
Bait: anchovy, horse mackerel, garfish · spoon, minnow, jig
Technique: trolling, spinning, jigging

Atlantic bonito — tunicatedreamz (Wikimedia Commons) · source

Legal status

Türkiye

Minimum size: 25 cm
Maximum quantity: 5 kg
Closed season: 1 April–14 August

Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7 communiqué text

Where is Atlantic bonito caught?

Peak months by sea.

Black Sea

peak this month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Natural bait: European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, garfish; regional support: European anchovy / European sprat
Lure: spoon, minnow, jig
Technique: Spin

Peak condition range

Wind: 5–24 km/h
Wind direction: onshore or cross-shore
Water temperature: 15–23 °C
Pressure: 1007–1020 hPa
Wave: 0,3–1,2 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Sea of Marmara

peak this month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Natural bait: European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, garfish; regional support: European anchovy / Atlantic horse mackerel / shrimp
Lure: spoon, minnow, jig
Technique: trolling, spin, jig

Peak condition range

Wind: 5–24 km/h
Wind direction: onshore or cross-shore
Water temperature: 15–23 °C
Pressure: 1007–1020 hPa
Wave: 0,3–1,2 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Aegean Sea

peak this month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Natural bait: European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, garfish; regional support: European sardine / mamun / sülünez
Lure: spoon, minnow, jig
Technique: trolling, spin, jig

Peak condition range

Wind: 5–24 km/h
Wind direction: onshore or cross-shore
Water temperature: 15–23 °C
Pressure: 1007–1020 hPa
Wave: 0,3–1,2 m

This is a general tendency; it guarantees no catch.

Mediterranean

peak this month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Natural bait: European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, garfish; regional support: European sardine / European squid / shrimp
Lure: spoon, minnow, jig
Technique: trolling, spin, jig

Bait and technique

Habitat: migratory pelagic
Fishing technique: trolling, spinning, jigging
Natural baits: anchovy, horse mackerel, garfish
Lures: spoon, minnow, jig

Tackle recipe

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.

Shore Jigging

Shore jigging

Searching far and deep water with metal jigs

Level: Intermediate–Advanced
Effort: High

Watch out: Heavy lures, fatigue, cliff and wave risk

Regulations: Güncel Yunanistan ve AB mevzuatı kontrol edilir

Shore Jigging

Shore jigging

Searching far and deep water with metal jigs

Level: Intermediate–Advanced
Effort: High

Rod: 2.70–3.30 m; 20–100 g
Reel: 4000–6000
Main line: PE 1.5–3.0
Leader/trace: 0.45–0.70 mm
Hook/lure: Assist #1/0–5/0
Bait/lure: Metal jig
Connector: Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain
Rod: 2.70–3.30 m; 20–100 g
Reel: 4000–6000
Main line: PE 1.5–3.0
Leader/trace: 0.45–0.70 mm
Hook/lure: Assist #1/0–5/0
Bait/lure: YEM0022
Connector: Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Heavy lures, fatigue, cliff and wave risk

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Atlantic bonito?: In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Atlantic bonito is 25 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.
When is Atlantic bonito closed to fishing?: The closed season for Atlantic bonito is 1 April–14 August. Fishing for it is banned within those dates. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.
Which seas is Atlantic bonito found in?: In our records Atlantic bonito appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, 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.
In which months is Atlantic bonito at its peak?: Peak periods by sea: Sea of Marmara August–December; Aegean Sea August–December; Mediterranean July–November; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Central & South Aegean — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Ionian Sea — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece April–November; Black Sea all year; Famagusta–İskele — Northern Cyprus June–September; Güzelyurt Bay — Northern Cyprus June–September; Kyrenia north coast — Northern Cyprus June–September; Karpas Peninsula — Northern Cyprus June–September; Paphos–Limassol south coast — Southern Cyprus June–September; Ayia Napa–Protaras — Southern Cyprus June–September; Akamas–Paphos west coast — Southern Cyprus June–September; Larnaca southeast coast — Southern Cyprus June–September; Ligurian Sea — Italy February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Strait of Sicily — Italy February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Ionian Sea — Italy February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Adriatic — Italy February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Sardinian Sea — Italy February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Mediterranean — Spain February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Alboran Sea — Spain February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Cantabrian Sea — Spain January, February, March, August, September, October, November; Atlantic Ocean — Spain January, March, April, May, October, November, December; Balearic Sea — Spain February, March, April, September, October, November, December; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain February, March, April, September, October, November, December.
Which bait is Atlantic bonito caught with?: Baits and lures on record: European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, garfish, shrimp, spoon, minnow, jig, European sardine, mamun, sülünez, European squid, European sprat.

Fishing grounds with this species

The first 12 of 1589 fishing grounds are listed.

See all 1589 fishing grounds on the map

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