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Sea fish

European flounder

Platichthys flesus

Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.

Other names: Pisi · Dere pisisi

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
European flounder
(c) Daniel Benák, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Habitat
Estuary · sandy bottom
Method
Bottom fishing
Family
Pleuronectidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is European flounder caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

South West coast fishing spots

131
South West coast
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Explore the coast on the map

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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

South West coast

Season and suitable conditions

Recorded all year round in this region; no distinct fishing season shows.

Season information is no guarantee of a catch.

Best spots in October

By month

Average monthly score of the spots in Turkey (0–100).

  1. 62 Jan
  2. 63 Feb
  3. 62 Mar
  4. 44 Apr
  5. 51 May
  6. 46 Jun
  7. 0 Jul
  8. 0 Aug
  9. 44 Sep
  10. 48 Oct
  11. 41 Nov
  12. 60 Dec

The best spot in each Turkish province, by this month’s score.

  1. Çiroz Plajı Bakırköy, İstanbul 54/100 Good
  2. Beğendik Sahili Demirköy, Kırklareli 54/100 Good
  3. Armutlu Dereağzı Plajı Armutlu, Yalova 54/100 Good
  4. Edincikaltı Plajı Bandırma, Balıkesir 50/100 Good
  5. Büyükkumla Deresi Gemlik, Bursa 50/100 Good

A 0–100 score from season, water temperature, habitat and local records; a general trend, not a guarantee.

Best times of day

When in the day it bites best, month by month.

  • Active at night
  • Good at night

In October

  1. Dawn 70

    1.5 h before sunrise → 1 h after

  2. Midday 40

    1 h before midday → 1 h after

  3. Dusk 80

    1 h before sunset → 1.5 h after

  4. Night Best 85

    0.5 h after sunset → 1 h before sunrise

Moon phase

Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.

  1. New moon 75
  2. First quarter 60
  3. Full moon 50
  4. Last quarter 60

Best phase: New moon

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70
Midday 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40
Dusk 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80
Night 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85

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.

2 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.

Depth

1–100 m

mostly 5–50 m

Water temperature

6.2–23.1 °C

ideal 8–15 °C

Salinity

Migrates between fresh and salt water

0–35 ‰

Shore types

  • Sandy beach
  • Delta / alluvial shore
  • Cove / inner bay
  • River / stream mouth
  • Lagoon / weir mouth
  • Inside harbours
  • Tidal flat / marsh
  • Harbour mouth

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand
  • Sand and gravel
  • Gravel

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

Natural baits

Lures

By water clarity

Bottom scent / lateral-line hunter — Searches the bottom with barbels, smell and lateral line. Has the edge in murky water.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or very fresh worm, shrimp, mole crab; small hidden hook; sunset and night first. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Only where it is known to work locally: scented soft plastic or worm, dragged slowly along the bottom. Colour: Natural brown, Red
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm and shrimp; fresh mussel. First lure: LRF micro soft plastic · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic; bead attractor (for flatfish). Colour: Pink, White, Red
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, mussel, sardine; worm and squid cocktail; the most productive water. First lure: Spoon · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic with scent gel; bead attractor. Colour: Fluorescent
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Horse mackerel · Very suitable Usually in this water: Heavy scent: a cocktail (worm with squid or fish), crab; on the bottom. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Suitable Usually in this water: Not recommended; if you must, scented soft plastic. Colour: Fluorescent, Glow (UV)
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Horse mackerel · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish and worm cocktail, crab; big pieces, refreshed often. First lure: Scented soft plastic · Weak
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Shrimp, Horse mackerel, Ragworm, Lugworm Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon
February
Natural baits: Shrimp, Horse mackerel, Ragworm, Lugworm Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon
March
Natural baits: Shrimp, Peeler crab, Ragworm, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon
April
Natural baits: Shrimp, Peeler crab, Ragworm, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon
May
Natural baits: Shrimp, Peeler crab, Ragworm, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon
June
Natural baits: Shrimp, Peeler crab, Ragworm, Horse mackerel Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon
July
Out of season
August
Out of season
September
Natural baits: Shrimp, Horse mackerel, Ragworm, Lugworm Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon
October
Natural baits: Shrimp, Horse mackerel, Ragworm, Lugworm Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon
November
Natural baits: Shrimp, Horse mackerel, Ragworm, Lugworm Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon
December
Natural baits: Shrimp, Horse mackerel, Ragworm, Lugworm Lures: LRF micro soft plastic, Scented soft plastic, Spoon

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 high, lures medium. Colour and presentation guide

Fishing technique

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

European flounder
Scientific name
Platichthys flesus
Family
Pleuronectidae
Order
Pleuronectiformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Aegean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea
Other names
Pisi, Pisi balığı, Dere pisisi

Frequently asked questions

Which seas is European flounder found in?

In our records European flounder appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Atlantic Ocean — Spain, Cantabrian Sea — Spain, Gulf of Cádiz — Spain, Atlantic — France, Channel & North Sea — France, North East coast — England, East coast — England, South East coast — England, South coast — England, South West coast — England, North West coast — England, North Sea — Germany, Baltic Sea — Germany, Black Sea — Bulgaria, Black Sea — Romania, North Sea — Netherlands, North Sea — Belgium.

In which months is European flounder at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Aegean Sea October–April; Sea of Marmara all year; Black Sea all year; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain October–March; Cantabrian Sea — Spain September–February; Atlantic Ocean — Spain September–February; Atlantic — France all year; Channel & North Sea — France all year; North Sea — Germany all year; Baltic Sea — Germany all year; Black Sea — Bulgaria all year; Black Sea — Romania all year; North East coast — England all year; East coast — England all year; South East coast — England all year; South coast — England all year; South West coast — England all year; North West coast — England all year; North Sea — Netherlands June–August; North Sea — Belgium June–August.

Which bait is European flounder caught with?

Baits and lures on record: worm, shrimp, fish chunk, European sardine, mamun, sülünez, bottom soft plastic, European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, European sprat.

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