Sea fish
South American pilchard
Sardinops sagax
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
Other names: Pacific sardine
- 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 60
1.5 h before midday → 1.5 h after
-
Dusk 65
1.5 h before sunset → 0.5 h after
-
Night 35
1 h after sunset → 1 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 60
- First quarter 50
- Full moon 40
- Last quarter 50
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 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 60 | 60 |
| Dusk | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 65 | 65 |
| Night | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 35 | 35 |
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
0–200 m
mostly 0–100 m
Water temperature
4.1–29.4 °C
ideal 10–20 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
24.8–38.8 ‰
Shore types
- Cove / inner bay
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Around marinas
- Headland
- Inside harbours
- Harbour mouth
- Strait shore
- Reclaimed shore
Bottom
Lives in open water
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
Lures
By water clarity
Small shoaling fish / planktivore — Small-mouthed, picks its food by sight. Small, shiny lures such as sabiki rigs take the lead in clear water.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Very small fresh pieces (shrimp, worm, fish flesh); thin leader, small hook. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Sabiki rig, small feathers, micro jig; twitch slowly. Colour: White, Silver, Blue-green back
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Small fresh pieces; the sabiki hooks can be baited. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Sabiki rig, micro jig, small spoon. Colour: Pink, Blue-green back, White, Silver
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm or shrimp pieces on the sabiki (baited sabiki); chum. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Baited sabiki, scented micro soft plastic. Colour: Fluorescent, Glow (UV), Pink, White
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Anchovy · Suitable Usually in this water: Scented small pieces with chum; at night under lights. First lure: Sabiki rig · Weak Usually in this water: UV/glow sabiki, lighted float. Colour: Glow (UV), Blue-green back, White
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Anchovy · Suitable Usually in this water: Hard going; chum and scented small pieces. First lure: Sabiki rig · Not recommended Colour: Colour does not matter
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- February
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- March
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- April
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- May
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- June
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- July
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- August
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- September
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- October
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- November
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
- December
- Natural baits: Ragworm, Anchovy Lures: Sabiki rig
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
- Sardinops sagax
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Pacific sardine
