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Sea fish

Garfish

Belone belone

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

Other names: Sargan

Open fishing grounds on the map Bait and tackle
Garfish
(c) Sarah Faulwetter, some rights reserved (CC BY) · source
Habitat
Near-surface inshore
Method
Float fishing · Spinning
Family
Belonidae

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Garfish caught?

Explore the regions or go straight to the map.

South West coast fishing spots

268
South West coast
Map preview

Explore the coast on the map

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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

South West coast

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

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. 71 Jan
  2. 71 Feb
  3. 83 Mar
  4. 83 Apr
  5. 79 May
  6. 67 Jun
  7. 60 Jul
  8. 58 Aug
  9. 69 Sep
  10. 83 Oct
  11. 82 Nov
  12. 76 Dec

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

  1. Engelliler Plajı Kuşadası, Aydın 96/100 Very good
  2. Akın Sitesi Sahili Bodrum, Muğla 95/100 Very good
  3. Paprika Beach Burhaniye, Balıkesir 94/100 Very good
  4. Güzelyalı Feribot İskelesi Kıyısı Mudanya, Bursa 94/100 Very good
  5. Behram İskelesi Ayvacık, Çanakkale 94/100 Very good

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

Best times of day

When in the day it bites best, month by month.

  • Active by day
  • Limited at night

In October

  1. Dawn Best 85

    0.5 h before sunrise → 2.5 h after

  2. Midday 75

    1 h before midday → 2 h after

  3. Dusk 85

    2 h before sunset → 0.5 h after

  4. Night 20

    0.5 h after sunset → 1 h before sunrise

Moon phase

Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.

  1. New moon 55
  2. First quarter 50
  3. Full moon 45
  4. Last quarter 50

Best phase: New moon

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 60 60 85 85 85 90 90 90 85 85 85 60
Midday 75 75 70 70 70 50 50 50 75 75 75 75
Dusk 60 60 80 80 80 85 85 85 85 85 85 60
Night 15 15 15 25 25 25 20 20 20

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

2–22 m

mostly 2–22 m

Water temperature

-0.9–29 °C

ideal 9.3–20.2 °C

Salinity

Also enters brackish water

3.6–39.3 ‰

Shore types

  • Cove / inner bay
  • Rocky shore
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Around marinas
  • Headland
  • Channel / strait link
  • Inside harbours
  • Harbour mouth
  • Strait shore
  • Reclaimed shore

Bottom

Lives in open water

  • 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.

Bait by month

Baits documented for shore fishing, month by month and by water clarity.

In October

Natural baits

Lures

By water clarity

Pelagic sight hunter — Chases baitfish shoals by sight. Lures shine in clear water; in murky water its hunting range shrinks.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Sand smelt · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live baitfish or a whole fresh fish; thin fluorocarbon leader, no float or a light one. First lure: Bombarda + fly · Suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow/stickbait, slim metal jig; fast, erratic retrieve. Colour: Silver
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Lure First natural bait: Sand smelt · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or fresh whole fish; normal size. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spoon, metal jig, popper/topwater; medium-fast retrieve. Colour: Silver
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Imported ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Cut oily fish (sardine/mackerel) with chum; under a float or at mid-depth. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spinner, paddle-tail shad, metal jig one size up; vibration first. Colour: Fluorescent, Silver
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Imported ragworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish fillet, bloody chunks; chum for a scent trail; fish slower. First lure: Metal jig · Suitable Usually in this water: If you must, a rattling vibe/lipless; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Fluorescent
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Anchovy · Suitable Usually in this water: A large, bloody chunk of oily fish; refresh the bait often. Catches usually drop. First lure: Metal jig · Not recommended Colour: Fluorescent
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
February
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
March
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Bombarda + fly, Spinner, Topwater lure
April
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Bombarda + fly, Spinner, Topwater lure
May
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Bombarda + fly, Spinner, Topwater lure
June
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Bombarda + fly, Spinner, Topwater lure
July
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Bombarda + fly, Spinner, Topwater lure
August
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Bombarda + fly, Spinner, Topwater lure
September
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Bombarda + fly, Spinner, Topwater lure
October
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
November
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly
December
Natural baits: Imported ragworm, Anchovy, Sand smelt, Sardine Lures: Garfish silk, Metal jig, Bombarda + fly

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 high. Colour and presentation guide

Natural baits

Fishing technique

Tackle recipe

Bombarda/Bubble Float

Surface trolling

Casting a light bait or lure far with a clear/bubble float

  • Level: Beginner–Advanced
  • Effort: Low–Moderate
Rod
3.00–4.20 m; 10–50 g
Reel
2500–4000
Main line
0.20–0.28 mm mono or PE 0.8–1.2
Leader/trace
1–2 m; 0.18–0.28 mm
Hook/lure
#10–#4 or garfish rope lure
Bait/lure
Garfish rope lure
Connector
Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Long rigs snagging behind you

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.

Tackle recipe

Saltwater Fly

Shore fly fishing

Surface and shallow-water fishing with artificial flies/streamers

  • Level: Advanced
  • Effort: Low
Rod
#6–#10 class; around 2.70 m
Reel
Saltwater fly reel
Main line
Floating/intermediate fly line
Leader/trace
0.25–0.45 mm tapered leader
Hook/lure
#8–2/0 fly
Bait/lure
Shrimp fly
Connector
Swivel/clip; pick a suitable breaking strain

Watch out: Back-cast clearance and wind

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

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

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

Garfish
Scientific name
Belone belone
Family
Belonidae
Order
Beloniformes
Water type
Saltwater
Seas
Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean
Other names
Zargana, Sargan

Frequently asked questions

Which seas is Garfish found in?

In our records Garfish appears in these seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic — Albania, Ionian Sea — Albania, Bay of Vlorë — Albania, 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, Atlantic Ocean — Spain, Mediterranean — Spain, Cantabrian Sea — Spain, Alboran Sea — Spain, Gulf of Cádiz — Spain, Strait of Gibraltar — Spain, Adriatic — Croatia, Mediterranean — France, Atlantic — France, Channel & North Sea — France, North East coast — England, East coast — England, South East coast — England, South coast — England, South West coast — England, North West coast — England, North Sea — Germany, Baltic Sea — Germany, Black Sea — Bulgaria, Black Sea — Romania, North Sea — Netherlands, North Sea — Belgium.

In which months is Garfish at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: Ionian Sea — Albania May–October; Adriatic — Albania May–October; Bay of Vlorë — Albania May–October; Sea of Marmara all year; Black Sea all year; Aegean Sea all year; Mediterranean all year; North Aegean & Thrace — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Central & South Aegean — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Ionian Sea — Greece April, May, August, September, October, November; Crete & Libyan Sea — Greece April–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; Ligurian Sea — Italy March, April, May, September, October, November; Tyrrhenian Sea — Italy March, April, October, November; Adriatic — Italy March, April, May, September, October, November; Strait of Sicily — Italy March, April, October, November; Ionian Sea — Italy March, April, October, November; Atlantic Ocean — Spain April, October, November, December; Mediterranean — Spain March, April, May, September, October, November; Alboran Sea — Spain March, April, October, November; Gulf of Cádiz — Spain March, April, May, September, October, November; Strait of Gibraltar — Spain March, April, May, September, October, November; Cantabrian Sea — Spain February, March, April, August, September, October; Adriatic — Croatia May–October; Atlantic — France June–October; Mediterranean — France June–October; Channel & North Sea — France June–October; North Sea — Germany June–September; Baltic Sea — Germany June–September; Black Sea — Bulgaria July–October; Black Sea — Romania July–October; North East coast — England June–September; East coast — England June–September; South East coast — England June–September; South coast — England June–September; South West coast — England June–September; North West coast — England June–September; North Sea — Netherlands May–August; North Sea — Belgium May–August.

Which bait is Garfish caught with?

Baits and lures on record: European anchovy strip, chicken meat, European anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, shrimp, thin spoon, small minnow, European sprat, European sardine, mamun, sülünez, European squid.

Similar species

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Open fishing grounds on the map
Open fishing grounds on the map · 4,012 fishing grounds

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Garfish · Belone belone

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