Sea fish
Pigfish
Orthopristis chrysoptera
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Nehir ağzı · deniz çayırı · iskele · resif
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
Sunrise → 3 h after
-
Midday 75
2 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 80
2 h before sunset → 0.5 h after
-
Night 45
Sunset → 2 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 35
- First quarter 35
- Full moon 40
- Last quarter 35
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 | 55 | 55 | 80 | 80 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 80 | 55 |
| Midday | 80 | 80 | 75 | 75 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 75 | 75 | 80 |
| Dusk | 60 | 60 | 80 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 80 | 60 |
| Night | 45 | 45 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 45 | 45 |
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.
6 sources · confidence medium
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
1–20 m
mostly 5–15 m
Water temperature
13.4–31.2 °C
ideal 16.7–27 °C
Salinity
Also enters brackish water
10–36.7 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Delta / alluvial shore
- Cove / inner bay
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Around marinas
- River / stream mouth
- Lagoon / weir mouth
- Inside harbours
- Harbour mouth
- Reclaimed shore
Bottom
Lives close to the bottom
- Sand
- Rock
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
By water clarity
Rock / bottom omnivore — Picks up crustaceans, worms and weed. Wary; relies on smell and a natural look.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Squid · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp, tube worm, mud shrimp, mussel; thin line, small hidden hook; little chum.
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Squid · Very suitable Usually in this water: Shrimp, worm, mussel; normal pieces.
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Mussel, crab, sardine pieces with chum (crushed mussel or bread).
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Crab, mussel, razor clam; bottom rig; strong scent.
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Mussel, crab, cut bait; big pieces.
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- February
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- March
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- April
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- May
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- June
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- July
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- August
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- September
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- October
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- November
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
- December
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid
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
- Orthopristis chrysoptera
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Pigfish
