Sea fish
Chub mackerel
Scomber japonicus
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
Other names: Pacific chub mackerel
- Habitat
- Iskele · pelajik · liman
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active at dawn and dusk
- Limited at night
In November
-
Dawn Best 85
0.5 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 50
1.5 h before midday → 1.5 h after
-
Dusk 85
1.5 h before sunset → 1 h after
-
Night 50
1 h after sunset → 1.5 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 65
- First quarter 55
- Full moon 50
- Last quarter 55
Best phase: New moon
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 85 | 85 |
| Midday | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 50 | 50 |
| Dusk | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 85 | 85 |
| Night | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 50 | 50 |
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
0–300 m
mostly 50–200 m
Water temperature
3.3–31.7 °C
ideal 18–24 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
13–35 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Cove / inner bay
- Rocky shore
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Around marinas
- Headland
- Channel / strait link
- Inside harbours
- Cliff / steep shore
- Harbour mouth
- Strait shore
- Reclaimed shore
Bottom
Lives in open water
- Sand
- Seaweed
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
By water clarity
Pelagic sight hunter — Chases baitfish shoals by sight. Lures shine in clear water; in murky water its hunting range shrinks.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Squid · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live baitfish or a whole fresh fish; thin fluorocarbon leader, no float or a light one. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow/stickbait, slim metal jig; fast, erratic retrieve. Colour: Blue-green back, Silver, White
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Squid · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or fresh whole fish; normal size. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spoon, metal jig, popper/topwater; medium-fast retrieve. Colour: Silver, White, Blue-green back, Pink
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Lure First natural bait: Anchovy · Very suitable Usually in this water: Cut oily fish (sardine/mackerel) with chum; under a float or at mid-depth. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spinner, paddle-tail shad, metal jig one size up; vibration first. Colour: White, Fluorescent, Gold
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Anchovy · Suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish fillet, bloody chunks; chum for a scent trail; fish slower. First lure: Metal jig · Suitable Usually in this water: If you must, a rattling vibe/lipless; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Fluorescent, Dark silhouette
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Anchovy · Suitable Usually in this water: A large, bloody chunk of oily fish; refresh the bait often. Catches usually drop. First lure: Metal jig · Not recommended Colour: Colour does not matter
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
- February
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
- March
- Out of season
- April
- Out of season
- May
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
- June
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
- July
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
- August
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
- September
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
- October
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
- November
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
- December
- Natural baits: Squid, Mackerel, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
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 high. 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
- Scomber japonicus
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Pacific chub mackerel
