Sea fish
Porkfish
Anisotremus virginicus
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Resif · kayalık · yapay yapı
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active at night
- Good at night
In October
-
Dawn 60
1 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 35
1 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk Best 80
1.5 h before sunset → 1 h after
-
Night 80
0.5 h after sunset → 2 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 70
- First quarter 60
- Full moon 50
- Last quarter 60
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 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 60 | 60 | 50 |
| Midday | 55 | 55 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 55 | ||||
| Dusk | 75 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 80 | 75 |
| Night | 65 | 65 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 80 | 65 |
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
2–70 m
mostly 2–20 m
Water temperature
21.8–32.4 °C
ideal 24.3–28.2 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
23.5–38 ‰
Shore types
- Cove / inner bay
- Rocky shore
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Headland
- Channel / strait link
- Harbour mouth
- Reclaimed shore
- Shoal / reef
Bottom
Lives close to the bottom
- Rock
- Seagrass
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 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: Shrimp · 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: Shrimp · 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
- February
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- March
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- April
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- May
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- June
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- July
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- August
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- September
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- October
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- November
- Natural baits: Shrimp
- December
- Natural baits: Shrimp
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 low, 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
- Anisotremus virginicus
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Porkfish
