Sea fish
Yellowfin goatfish
Mulloidichthys vanicolensis
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
Other names: Yellowfin goatfish (weke ula)
- Habitat
- Resif · kumluk dip · iskele
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active at night
- Good at night
In November
-
Dawn 60
1 h before sunrise → 1 h after
-
Midday 15
0.5 h before midday → 0.5 h after
-
Dusk 75
0.5 h before sunset → 1.5 h after
-
Night Best 85
1 h after sunset → 1 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 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 60 | 60 |
| Midday | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 |
| Dusk | 75 | 75 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| Night | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 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.
3 sources · confidence medium
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
1–113 m
mostly 5–40 m
Water temperature
20.3–33.2 °C
ideal 24.5–29 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
28.1–39 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Cove / inner bay
- Rocky shore
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Mixed shore
- Lagoon / weir mouth
- Inside harbours
- Harbour mouth
- Reclaimed shore
- Shoal / reef
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 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
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: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or very fresh worm, shrimp, mole crab; small hidden hook; sunset and night first. First lure: Scented 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: Clear, Blue-green back
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm and shrimp; fresh mussel. First lure: Sabiki rig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic; bead attractor (for flatfish). Colour: Clear, Blue-green back
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, mussel, sardine; worm and squid cocktail; the most productive water. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic with scent gel; bead attractor. Colour: Gold
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · 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: Gold
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · 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, Mole crab Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- February
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Mole crab Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- March
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Mole crab Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- April
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Mole crab Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- May
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Mole crab Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- June
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Fish roe Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- July
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Fish roe Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- August
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Fish roe Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- September
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Fish roe Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- October
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Fish roe Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- November
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Fish roe Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
- December
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Fish roe Lures: Sabiki rig, Metal jig, Scented soft plastic
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 medium. 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
- Mulloidichthys vanicolensis
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Yellowfin goatfish (weke ula)
