Dardanelles · fish in season in November
Peak season
Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix
One of the two most important recreational species in the Dardanelles; recreational harvest of this species is a sizeable share of the commercial catch. Caught in autumn as it passes from the Marmara to the Aegean; by mid-September anglers take lüfer, with sarıkanat and çinekop reported to increase in the following weeks.
Where: The current-swept channel, mostly from boats, with live bait caught on sardine/sand-smelt sabiki rigs. On shore, the Çanakkale waterfront and Gümrük pier are well-known spots.
Shore spinning Jigging Sabiki / feather rig Spoon Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Horse mackerel Anchovy Sardine
Source: Ege Üniversitesi Açık Erişim · Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · Ekonomist / Anadolu Ajansı
Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda
Bonito can be abundant in the Dardanelles from the September season opening; it passes into the Aegean with the autumn migration.
Where: The strait channel, from boats.
Sabiki / feather rig Trolling Shore spinning Sabiki feathers Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Horse mackerel Sardine Anchovy
Source: Ekonomist / Anadolu Ajansı · haberler.com
In season
European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax
Common at the Çanakkale fish market from rod and trap-net catches; comes inshore in the cooler months.
Where: Rocky points, river mouths, breakwaters.
Shore spinning Surfcasting Trolling Minnow (hard bait) Soft plastic Small live fish Peeler crab Ragworm
Source: Ekonomist / Anadolu Ajansı · FishBase
Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus
Taken on sabiki rigs year-round.
Where: Piers and harbours.
Sabiki / feather rig Jigging Sabiki feathers Soft plastic Metal jig Anchovy Sardine Squid
Source: Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · Ekonomist / Anadolu Ajansı
Bogue Boops boops
A schooling fish occasionally taken on sabiki; rises to the surface at night.
Where: Near-shore waters over all bottom types; piers.
Sabiki / feather rig Float fishing Bottom fishing Sabiki feathers Shrimp Lugworm Ragworm
Source: Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
Picarel Spicara smaris
Along with bluefish, the dominant species in Dardanelles recreational catches. Schools over seagrass and muddy bottoms, except while spawning.
Where: Near-shore seagrass and muddy bottoms; small hooks or sabiki rigs.
Bottom fishing Sabiki / feather rig Handline Mussel Shrimp Ragworm
Source: Ege Üniversitesi Açık Erişim · Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
Big-scale sand smelt Atherina boyeri
70% of the catch in a three-year sabiki study at Çanakkale; also caught from shore. Important as live bait for bluefish.
Where: Shore and piers; at dawn and sunset with white-feathered sabiki on size 11–14 hooks.
Sabiki / feather rig Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Sabiki feathers Bread Dough bait Shrimp
Source: Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi
European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus
Black Sea anchovy arrives gradually in autumn; for anglers mostly bait.
Where: Offshore schools.
Sabiki / feather rig Sabiki feathers
Source: Ekonomist / Anadolu Ajansı · haberler.com
Blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo
A notable part of the non-target catch in the Çanakkale sabiki study (juveniles). IUCN Near Threatened; release small fish.
Where: Near-shore bottoms.
Bottom fishing Drifting Squid Sardine Shrimp
Source: Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
European pilchard Sardina pilchardus
One of Çanakkale's signature pelagics; caught on sabiki for both bait and the table.
Where: Shore and piers in good weather.
Sabiki / feather rig Sabiki feathers
Source: Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · Ekonomist / Anadolu Ajansı
Occasional
Gilt-head bream Sparus aurata
Rod-caught fish appear at the Çanakkale market; it enters lagoons and brackish mouths in spring.
Where: Sandy bottoms, seagrass edges, the surf zone; mussel and crab baits.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Float fishing Soft plastic Minnow (hard bait) Hardback crab Mussel Shrimp
Source: Ekonomist / Anadolu Ajansı · FishBase
Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus
The most frequent non-target species on sardine/sand-smelt sabiki; plentiful at the fish market in September. Month-by-month abundance data are limited.
Where: The Aegean mouth of the strait and Gallipoli Peninsula coast; sabiki from boats.
Sabiki / feather rig Jigging Sabiki feathers Spoon Metal jig
Source: Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · Ekonomist / Anadolu Ajansı
Whiting Merlangius merlangus
Found at the Çanakkale market in autumn; seldom on rod and line.
Where: Deep muddy bottoms.
Sabiki / feather rig Bottom fishing Handline Sabiki feathers Chicken breast Mussel Fish strip
Source: Ekonomist / Anadolu Ajansı · FishBase
Dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus
PROTECTED
A species of conservation concern on the IUCN Red List, reported among species targeted by recreational fishers in the Dardanelles. If caught, release it unharmed and check current regulations.
Source: Anadolu Çevre ve Hayvancılık Bilimleri Dergisi 4(3): 414-421 · FishBase
Common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis
Regularly caught along the Gallipoli Peninsula coast from December to May at 10–60 m; comes inshore in winter and spring. Targeted with squid jigs (eging).
Where: Sandy-muddy and seagrass shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Eging (squid) Drifting Squid jig (egi)
Source: Menba Kastamonu Üniversitesi Su Ürünleri Fakültesi Dergisi 2(1) · SeaLifeBase
Blotched picarel Spicara maena
Occasionally taken on sardine/sand-smelt sabiki rigs.
Where: Seagrass, sand and rocky bottoms.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Handline Mussel Shrimp Ragworm
Source: Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
Axillary seabream Pagellus acarne
An occasional catch on sabiki rigs.
Where: Sand and seagrass bottoms.
Bottom fishing Handline Shrimp Ragworm Squid
Source: Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
Round sardinella Sardinella aurita
An occasional catch on sardine sabiki rigs.
Where: Near-shore surface waters.
Sabiki / feather rig Sabiki feathers
Source: Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
This is the general seasonal pattern for the region, not live data. It can shift by a few weeks with water temperature, migration and the year.