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Sea fish

Striped red mullet

Mullus surmuletus

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

Other names: Çizgili barbun

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Striped red mullet
Roberto Pillon (Wikimedia Commons) · source
Habitat
Sandy-rocky bottom
Method
Bottom fishing · LRF
Family
Mullidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Striped red mullet caught?

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Adriatic fishing spots

1,055
Adriatic
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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

Adriatic

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

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

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. 63 Jan
  2. 63 Feb
  3. 63 Mar
  4. 63 Apr
  5. 63 May
  6. 64 Jun
  7. 45 Jul
  8. 42 Aug
  9. 47 Sep
  10. 65 Oct
  11. 70 Nov
  12. 63 Dec

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

  1. Tilki Koyu Gömeç, Balıkesir 80/100 Very good
  2. Avana Plajı Bozcaada, Çanakkale 80/100 Very good
  3. Sultaniçe Sahili Enez, Edirne 80/100 Very good
  4. Cam Teras Adalar, İstanbul 80/100 Very good
  5. Denizköy Plajı Dikili, İzmir 80/100 Very good

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

Habitat

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

Rarely caught on a line from the shore.

Depth

5–409 m

mostly 5–100 m

Water temperature

-1.6–24.1 °C

ideal 10.2–20.5 °C

Salinity

Full-strength seawater

17–39.3 ‰

Shore types

  • Sandy beach
  • Rocky shore
  • Mixed shore
  • Shingle shore

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand
  • Sand and gravel
  • Gravel
  • Rock
  • Sand, gravel and 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.

Lures

  • Soft plastic worm

Fishing technique

Tackle recipe

Bottom Fishing

Classic bottom rig

Holding a weighted natural-bait rig on the bottom

  • Level: Beginner
  • Effort: Low–Moderate
Rod
2.70–3.90 m; 40–150 g
Reel
3000–6000
Main line
0.25–0.35 mm mono or PE 1.0–2.0
Leader/trace
0.28–0.45 mm
Hook/lure
#8–3/0
Bait/lure
Mussel meat
Connector
Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Snagging and lead casting

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 Türkiye

Türkiye

Minimum size
12 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg

Single-species or mixed total; details and exceptions are in the regulation.

No species-specific closed season is listed; area and method rules still apply.

Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7 communiqué text

MVT0036

2024/21 Çizelge 7

No additional species note; the general provisions of 2024/21 apply No species-based time closure is stated; the area and method provisions are reserved

The table in our records

Minimum size
12 cm
Maximum quantity
5 kg

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) →

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

Striped red mullet
Scientific name
Mullus surmuletus
Family
Mullidae
Order
Mulliformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Tekir, Çizgili barbun

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for Striped red mullet?

In recreational angling the minimum catch size for Striped red mullet is 12 cm. Fish below that length have to be returned to the water. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

When is Striped red mullet closed to fishing?

There is no closed season specific to Striped red mullet — the regulations set no time ban for this species. Area and gear rules still apply. The limit that applies all year is the minimum size: 12 cm. Legal basis: 2024/21 Çizelge 7.

Which seas is Striped red mullet found in?

In our records Striped red mullet 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, Güzelyurt Bay — Northern Cyprus, Kyrenia north coast — Northern Cyprus, Famagusta–İskele — Northern Cyprus, Karpas Peninsula — Northern Cyprus, Akamas–Paphos west coast — Southern Cyprus, Paphos–Limassol south coast — Southern Cyprus, Larnaca southeast coast — Southern Cyprus, Ayia Napa–Protaras — Southern Cyprus, 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, Adriatic — Croatia, Mediterranean — France, Atlantic — France.

In which months is Striped red mullet at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Sea of Marmara all year; Black Sea all year; Aegean Sea all year; Mediterranean all year; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece March–November; Central & South Aegean — Greece March–November; Ionian Sea — Greece March–November; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece March–November; Famagusta–İskele — Northern Cyprus all year; Güzelyurt Bay — Northern Cyprus all year; Kyrenia north coast — Northern Cyprus all year; Karpas Peninsula — Northern Cyprus all year; Paphos–Limassol south coast — Southern Cyprus all year; Ayia Napa–Protaras — Southern Cyprus all year; Akamas–Paphos west coast — Southern Cyprus all year; Larnaca southeast coast — Southern Cyprus all year; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Strait of Sicily — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Adriatic — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Ligurian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Sardinian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Ionian Sea — Italy April, May, June, September, October; Cantabrian Sea — Spain March, April, May, August, September; Mediterranean — Spain April, May, June, September, October; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain April, May, June, September, October; Alboran Sea — Spain April, May, June, September, October; Balearic Sea — Spain April, May, June, September, October; Atlantic Ocean — Spain March, April, May, August, September; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain April, May, June, September, October; Adriatic — Croatia May–October; Atlantic — France June–September; Mediterranean — France June–September.

Which bait is Striped red mullet caught with?

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

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