Sea fish
Weakfish
Cynoscion regalis
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Nehir ağzı · kumluk dip · kumsal · iskele
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active at dawn and dusk
- Good at night
In October
-
Dawn 65
1 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 25
1 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk Best 90
1.5 h before sunset → 1 h after
-
Night 80
Sunset → 3 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 75
- First quarter 65
- Full moon 55
- Last quarter 65
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 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 70 | 70 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 55 |
| Midday | 45 | 45 | 45 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 45 | ||
| Dusk | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 95 | 95 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 85 |
| Night | 65 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 80 | 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
0–26 m
mostly 2–26 m
Water temperature
3–27 °C
ideal 18–24 °C
Salinity
Also enters brackish water
2.4–36.7 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Delta / alluvial shore
- Cove / inner bay
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Headland
- Mixed shore
- River / stream mouth
- Harbour mouth
Bottom
Lives close to the bottom
- Sand
- Seagrass
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
Inshore / reef predator — Semi-pelagic; ambushes and chases. Good eyesight and a strong lateral line; takes both kinds of bait.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or a live small fish; thin leader; dawn, dusk and night first. First lure: Jighead + soft worm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Natural-coloured soft shad/minnow, LRF, slim hard lure; slow and natural. Colour: Natural brown, Silver, Clear
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, fresh sardine pieces. First lure: Feathered spoon · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow, jighead + shad, stickbait. Colour: Pink
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, or a piece of oily fish; one size bigger. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Very suitable Usually in this water: Paddle-tail shad, vibe, spinner; vibration first. Colour: Fluorescent, Pink
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Menhaden · Very suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, crab, cut bait; on the bottom or at mid-depth; chum. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Very suitable Usually in this water: Rattling vibe, scented soft plastic; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Fluorescent, Dark silhouette, Pink
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Menhaden · Suitable Usually in this water: The strongest scent: fish guts, cut mackerel or sardine, mussel; big pieces. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Weak Usually in this water: Not recommended; if you must, scented and rattling. Colour: Dark silhouette, Fluorescent
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Out of season
- February
- Out of season
- March
- Out of season
- April
- Natural baits: Peeler crab, Bloodworm, King ragworm Lures: Feathered spoon, Jighead + soft swimbait, Jighead + soft worm
- May
- Natural baits: Peeler crab, Shrimp, King ragworm Lures: Feathered spoon, Jighead + soft swimbait, Jighead + soft worm
- June
- Natural baits: Peeler crab, Shrimp, Squid Lures: Feathered spoon, Jighead + soft swimbait, Jighead + soft worm
- July
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Menhaden Lures: Feathered spoon, Jighead + soft swimbait, Jighead + soft worm
- August
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Menhaden Lures: Feathered spoon, Jighead + soft swimbait, Jighead + soft worm
- September
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Menhaden Lures: Feathered spoon, Jighead + soft swimbait, Jighead + soft worm
- October
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Menhaden Lures: Feathered spoon, Jighead + soft swimbait, Jighead + soft worm
- November
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Squid, Menhaden Lures: Feathered spoon, Jighead + soft swimbait, Jighead + soft worm
- 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 medium, lures high. 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
- Cynoscion regalis
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Weakfish
