Western Black Sea · fish in season in November
Peak season
Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix
On the Turkish coast it is caught October–December while migrating west to east, more plentiful in the western provinces. Rare on the north-western (Romanian) coast. Named by size (çinekop, sarıkanat, lüfer, kofana); çinekop size is the most commonly caught.
Where: Current-swept headlands and harbour mouths; lures and live bait.
Shore spinning Jigging Sabiki / feather rig Spoon Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Horse mackerel Anchovy Sardine
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · Acta Adriatica / Hrčak · University of Pitești
Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus
By far the most caught recreational species on the Turkish Black Sea coast; present year-round. Also among the dominant species on the Romanian and Bulgarian coast, where it is mostly inshore in the warm months.
Where: Harbours, piers and breakwaters; sabiki rigs and light rock fishing.
Sabiki / feather rig Jigging Sabiki feathers Soft plastic Metal jig Anchovy Sardine Squid
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · Acta Adriatica / Hrčak · University of Pitești
In season
European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax
Found around rocky areas year-round; more often targeted from shore 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: Frontiers in Marine Science
Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda
On the Turkish coast from August to October; caught in larger amounts in the western provinces.
Where: Open water, mostly from boats.
Sabiki / feather rig Trolling Shore spinning Sabiki feathers Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Horse mackerel Sardine Anchovy
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · Acta Adriatica / Hrčak · haberler.com
Garfish Belone belone
August to December, mostly from boats offshore; more plentiful in the western provinces. Rare on the Romanian coast.
Where: Surface current lines; float rigs and small spoons.
Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Shore spinning Metal jig Soft plastic Fly Fish strip Mackerel strip Sand eel
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · Acta Adriatica / Hrčak · University of Pitești
European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus
Fourth in the Turkish recreational catch; moves to the southern coast in winter. In summer it moves north and into surface waters, and is also common on the Romanian coast.
Where: In schools; fine sabiki rigs from piers.
Sabiki / feather rig Sabiki feathers
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · University of Pitești · FishBase
Round goby Neogobius melanostomus
The most abundant goby on the Bulgarian and Romanian coasts and one of the commonest rod catches; also caught on the Turkish coast. Spawns April–September with males guarding nests; some countries close goby fishing in spring.
Where: Shallow rocky and vegetated bottoms, around harbours and piers; small hooks with mussel or worm bait.
Handline Bottom fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Mussel Fish strip Anchovy
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · University of Pitești · Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science
Occasional
Brown meagre Sciaena umbra
Found in rocky areas year-round; more active at night.
Where: Rocky shores and breakwaters.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Live shrimp Ragworm Shrimp
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · FishBase
Turbot Scophthalmus maximus
Black Sea turbot (treated as Scophthalmus maeoticus by some authors). Spawns April–August; among the dominant species on the Romanian coast. Many countries have a closed season during spawning; check local rules.
Where: Sandy and mixed bottoms, from boats.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Live bait Horse mackerel Fish strip Anchovy
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · University of Pitești · FishBase
Common two-banded seabream Diplodus vulgaris
An uncommon catch on the Turkish coast.
Where: Rocky, mussel-covered bottoms.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Handline Ragworm Mussel Shrimp
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
So-iuy mullet Planiliza haematocheilus
A Far-East mullet that became established in the Black Sea; its spread along the coast coincides with a decline of native mullets. Usually 20–30 cm in the Black Sea.
Where: River mouths, lagoons and harbours.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Ragworm Bread Dough bait
Source: FishBase
Tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucerna
Appears in Turkish recreational catches; most are small and released.
Where: Sand and gravel bottoms.
Bottom fishing Drifting Surfcasting Metal jig Horse mackerel Fish strip Mackerel strip
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · FishBase
Flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus
Grey mullet comes close to shore between January and April and is easiest to catch then; more plentiful in the western provinces.
Where: Inside harbours, river mouths, shallow beaches.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Handline Bread Dough bait Ragworm
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · Acta Adriatica / Hrčak
Whiting Merlangius merlangus
Caught by Turkish anglers in summer; a dominant species on the Romanian coast.
Where: Muddy and gravel bottoms, usually from boats.
Sabiki / feather rig Bottom fishing Handline Sabiki feathers Chicken breast Mussel Fish strip
European flounder Platichthys flesus
Rare on the Romanian coast; lives in estuaries and brackish water and moves deeper in winter.
Where: River mouths, sandy-muddy shallows.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Ragworm Lugworm Peeler crab
Source: University of Pitești · FishBase
Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus
Scarce today; only a few were caught in the Turkish survey year.
Where: Open water; sabiki rigs.
Sabiki / feather rig Shore spinning Float fishing Sabiki feathers Spinner Fish strip
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
Beluga sturgeon Huso huso
PROTECTED
PROTECTED SPECIES — IUCN Critically Endangered. Roams the sea after prey and enters rivers to spawn in March–May (sometimes autumn). If caught, release it immediately and unharmed.
Source: FishBase
Annular seabream Diplodus annularis
Uncommon; favours seagrass beds.
Where: Seagrass and sandy bottoms.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Ragworm Shrimp Mussel
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · FishBase
Black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus
Becomes more active as the sea warms; easily caught by handline from rocks. Its spines are venomous.
Where: Rocky shores, foot of breakwaters.
Bottom fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Float fishing Soft plastic Jig head Fish strip Horse mackerel Shrimp
Blotched picarel Spicara maena
An occasional recreational catch on the Turkish coast.
Where: Rocky, weedy bottoms.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Handline Mussel Shrimp Ragworm
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · FishBase
Starry sturgeon Acipenser stellatus
PROTECTED
PROTECTED SPECIES — IUCN Critically Endangered. Specimens caught during sampling on the Romanian coast were released. If caught, release it immediately and unharmed.
Source: University of Pitești · FishBase
Knout goby Mesogobius batrachocephalus
A large goby endemic to the Black and Azov seas; comes inshore in spring to spawn and retreats to 20–60 m in summer. Important in Bulgarian catches and popular with sport anglers for its size.
Where: Sand, shell and rocky bottoms near cliffs.
Bottom fishing Handline Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Fish strip Anchovy Horse mackerel
Source: Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science · FishBase
European pilchard Sardina pilchardus
An occasional recreational catch on the Turkish Black Sea coast; much of it is released.
Where: Piers and harbours.
Sabiki / feather rig Sabiki feathers
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
European sprat Sprattus sprattus
Very abundant on the Romanian coast; on rod and line mainly via sabiki rigs and as bait.
Where: Near-shore schools.
Sabiki / feather rig Sabiki feathers
Source: University of Pitești · 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.