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Sea fish

European sardine

Sardina pilchardus

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

Other names: Ateş balığı

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
European sardine
(c) Duarte Frade, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Habitat
Coastal schooling fish
Method
Sabiki · Float fishing
Family
Alosidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is European sardine caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

Atlantic fishing spots

391
Atlantic
Map preview

Explore the coast on the map

Open map

A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Atlantic

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

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. 0 Jan
  2. 0 Feb
  3. 34 Mar
  4. 59 Apr
  5. 56 May
  6. 53 Jun
  7. 47 Jul
  8. 45 Aug
  9. 44 Sep
  10. 51 Oct
  11. 45 Nov
  12. 0 Dec

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

  1. Asit İskelesi Bandırma, Balıkesir 63/100 Good
  2. Doğan Deresi Süleymanpaşa, Tekirdağ 63/100 Good
  3. Ilıca Deresi Balçova, İzmir 61/100 Good
  4. Cavit Çağlar İskelesi Gemlik, Bursa 60/100 Good
  5. Aya Nikola Halk Plajı Adalar, İstanbul 60/100 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 55

    1 h before sunrise → 1 h after

  2. Midday 30

    1 h before midday → 1 h after

  3. Dusk 80

    1 h before sunset → 1.5 h after

  4. Night Best 85

    1 h after sunset → 2 h before sunrise

Moon phase

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

  1. New moon 85
  2. First quarter 65
  3. Full moon 35
  4. Last quarter 65

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 55 55 60 60 60 55 55 55 55 55 55 55
Midday 35 35 35 35 35 30 30 30 35
Dusk 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80
Night 80 80 80 80 80 90 90 90 85 85 85 80

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

0–100 m

mostly 25–100 m

Water temperature

-1.1–25 °C

ideal 14–19 °C

Salinity

Full-strength seawater

17–39.5 ‰

Shore types

  • Cove / inner bay
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Around marinas
  • Headland
  • Promenade / seafront
  • Channel / strait link
  • 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 October

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 lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Sabiki rig, small feathers, micro jig; twitch slowly. Colour: Clear, Silver
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Lure First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Sabiki rig, micro jig, small spoon. Colour: Silver, Clear
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Lure First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Baited sabiki, scented micro soft plastic. Colour: Silver
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Lure 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
Lure First lure: Sabiki rig · Not recommended Colour: Colour does not matter No strong option in this water; catches may be poor.
12-month bait calendar
January
Out of season
February
Out of season
March
Lures: Sabiki rig
April
Lures: Sabiki rig
May
Lures: Sabiki rig
June
Lures: Sabiki rig
July
Lures: Sabiki rig
August
Lures: Sabiki rig
September
Lures: Sabiki rig
October
Lures: Sabiki rig
November
Lures: Sabiki rig
December
Out of season

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 high. Colour and presentation guide

Natural baits

Fishing technique

Tackle recipe

Sabiki Rig

Sabiki / multi-hook rig

A multi-hook feathered rig for shoaling fish

  • Level: Beginner
  • Effort: Low–Moderate
Rod
2.40–3.60 m; 20–80 g
Reel
3000–5000
Main line
0.22–0.35 mm mono or PE 0.8–1.5
Leader/trace
Ready-made trace 0.18–0.30 mm
Hook/lure
Max 15 hooks
Bait/lure
Feathered sabiki
Connector
Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Multiple-hook injury

Keep with you: Pliers, hook remover, glasses and first aid

Regulations: Communiqué 2024/21 Article 16 hook and line limits and place bans are checked

  • Rod

  • Reel

  • Line and leader

A setup to start from. Rod length, line diameter and drag are changed to suit the size of fish you are after and the current and bottom structure of the ground.

See tackle suggestions

Fishing rules for Greece

Greece

Minimum size
11 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg

Closed season: Tür/alan/dönem için daha sıkı kural olabilir

Legal basis: EU 2019/1241 Ek IX + Yunan ulusal mevzuatı communiqué text

Species size/quantity limit

EU 2019/1241 Ek IX + Yunan ulusal mevzuatı

AB asgari boy + Yunan Sahil Güvenliği genel günlük miktar çerçevesi; resmî güncel metin kontrol edilir

The table in our records

Minimum size
11 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg
Closed season
Tür/alan/dönem için daha sıkı kural olabilir

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.

Species profile

European sardine
Scientific name
Sardina pilchardus
Family
Alosidae
Order
Clupeiformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Aegean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Sardalya, Ateş balığı

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for European sardine?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for European sardine is 11 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: EU 2019/1241 Ek IX + Yunan ulusal mevzuatı.

Which seas is European sardine found in?

In our records European sardine appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, North Aegean & Thrace — Greece, Central & South Aegean — Greece, Ionian Sea — Greece, Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece, Ligurian Sea — Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy, Adriatic — Italy, Ionian Sea — Italy, Strait of Sicily — Italy, Sardinian Sea — Italy, Atlantic Ocean — Spain, Mediterranean — Spain, Cantabrian Sea — Spain, Balearic Sea — Spain, Alboran Sea — Spain, Gulf of Cádiz — Spain, Strait of Gibraltar — Spain, Mediterranean — France, Atlantic — France, Channel & North Sea — France.

In which months is European sardine at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Aegean Sea May–October; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Central & South Aegean — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Ionian Sea — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece April–November; Sea of Marmara all year; Black Sea all year; Mediterranean all year; Sardinian Sea — Italy May–September; Ligurian Sea — Italy May–September; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy May–September; Strait of Sicily — Italy May–September; Adriatic — Italy May–September; Ionian Sea — Italy May–September; Mediterranean — Spain May–September; Alboran Sea — Spain May–September; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain May–September; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain May–September; Cantabrian Sea — Spain April–August; Atlantic Ocean — Spain June–October; Balearic Sea — Spain May–September; Atlantic — France May–September; Mediterranean — France May–September; Channel & North Sea — France May–September.

Which bait is European sardine caught with?

Baits and lures on record: bread, fish flesh, European sardine, mamun, sülünez, micro jig, sabiki, European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, shrimp, European sprat, European squid.

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Open fishing grounds on the map
Open fishing grounds on the map · 1,735 fishing grounds

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