Sea fish
Tautog
Tautoga onitis
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Kayalık · iskele · yapay yapı · resif
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active by day
- Poor at night
In October
-
Dawn 55
Sunrise → 3 h after
-
Midday Best 85
2.5 h before midday → 3 h after
-
Dusk 60
2 h before sunset → sunset
Not productive at night
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 5
- First quarter 5
- Full moon 0
- Last quarter 5
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 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 57 | 57 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 51 |
| Midday | 93 | 93 | 93 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 77 | 77 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 93 |
| Dusk | 58 | 58 | 58 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 62 | 62 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 58 |
| Night |
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 high
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
1–75 m
mostly 1–20 m
Water temperature
0–25 °C
ideal 15–22 °C
Salinity
Full-strength seawater
20–38.1 ‰
Shore types
- Cove / inner bay
- Rocky shore
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Headland
- Cliff / steep shore
- Reclaimed shore
- Shoal / reef
Bottom
Lives close to the bottom
- Rock
- Seagrass
- Seaweed
Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.
Confidence: shore type high, temperature high
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
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Fiddler crab · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp, tube worm, mud shrimp, mussel; thin line, small hidden hook; little chum. First lure: Jighead · Very suitable Usually in this water: LRF micro soft plastic, imitation shrimp; very small, slow. Colour: Clear
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Fiddler crab · Very suitable Usually in this water: Shrimp, worm, mussel; normal pieces. First lure: Jighead · Very suitable Usually in this water: LRF/micro soft plastic, imitation shrimp. Colour: Clear
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Crab · Very suitable Usually in this water: Mussel, crab, sardine pieces with chum (crushed mussel or bread). First lure: Imitation crab · Suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic (Isome/Gulp type); slow, on the bottom. Colour: Fluorescent
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Crab · Very suitable Usually in this water: Crab, mussel, razor clam; bottom rig; strong scent. First lure: Imitation crab · Weak Usually in this water: Weak; scented soft plastic only. Colour: Fluorescent
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Crab · Suitable Usually in this water: Mussel, crab, cut bait; big pieces. First lure: Imitation crab · Not recommended Colour: Fluorescent
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Out of season
- February
- Out of season
- March
- Out of season
- April
- Natural baits: Crab, Fiddler crab Lures: Jighead
- May
- Natural baits: Crab, Fiddler crab Lures: Jighead
- June
- Natural baits: Crab, Fiddler crab Lures: Jighead
- July
- Natural baits: Crab, Clam Lures: Jighead
- August
- Natural baits: Crab, Clam Lures: Jighead
- September
- Natural baits: Crab, Fiddler crab Lures: Imitation crab, Jighead
- October
- Natural baits: Crab, Fiddler crab Lures: Jighead, Imitation crab
- November
- Natural baits: Crab, Fiddler crab Lures: Jighead
- December
- Natural baits: Crab Lures: Jighead
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 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
- Tautoga onitis
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Tautog
