Sea fish
Topsmelt
Atherinops affinis
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Iskele · liman · nehir ağzı · pelajik
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active by day
- Poor at night
In October
-
Dawn Best 85
Sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 75
2 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 80
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 50
- First quarter 50
- Full moon 50
- Last quarter 50
Best phase: No clear effect
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 60 | 60 | 60 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 60 | 60 |
| Midday | 90 | 90 | 90 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 90 | 90 |
| Dusk | 65 | 65 | 65 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 65 | 65 |
| 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.
3 sources · confidence medium
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
0–26 m
mostly 0–5 m
Water temperature
2.7–29.6 °C
ideal 11.7–23.4 °C
Salinity
Also enters brackish water
0–80 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Delta / alluvial shore
- Cove / inner bay
- Rocky shore
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Around marinas
- River / stream mouth
- Lagoon / weir mouth
- Inside harbours
- Reclaimed shore
Bottom
Lives in open water
- Seaweed
Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.
Confidence: shore type high, 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
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
- Natural bait First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Very small fresh pieces (shrimp, worm, fish flesh); thin leader, small hook.
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Small fresh pieces; the sabiki hooks can be baited.
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm or shrimp pieces on the sabiki (baited sabiki); chum.
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Scented small pieces with chum; at night under lights.
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Hard going; chum and scented small pieces.
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- February
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- March
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- April
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- May
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- June
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- July
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- August
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- September
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- October
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- November
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
- December
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Ragworm
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 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
- Atherinops affinis
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Topsmelt
