Sea of Marmara · fish in season in November
Peak season
Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix
15% of the catch around Bandırma–Kapıdağ (mostly çinekop size). The main season is the autumn migration; recent studies show it now starts around mid-October and ends around mid-December.
Where: Current-swept headlands and the Kapıdağ Peninsula and islands along the migration route; lures from shore, sabiki and live bait from boats.
Shore spinning Jigging Sabiki / feather rig Spoon Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Horse mackerel Anchovy Sardine
Source: Anadolu Çevre ve Hayvancılık Bilimleri Dergisi 4(3): 414-421 · MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · haberler.com
Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda
Together with bluefish the main target around Kapıdağ and the islands. It comes down from the Black Sea in autumn; the season concentrates in October–December.
Where: Open water, from boats; around the Kapıdağ Peninsula and Marmara Island.
Sabiki / feather rig Trolling Shore spinning Sabiki feathers Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Horse mackerel Sardine Anchovy
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · haberler.com · CIESM
Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus
The species most often caught by Marmara anglers; 19% of the catch in the Bandırma–Kapıdağ survey. Present year-round, with larger fish in winter.
Where: Piers, harbours and breakwaters; Bandırma Bay, Kapıdağ Peninsula, Avcılar–Ambarlı shore, Galata Bridge.
Sabiki / feather rig Jigging Sabiki feathers Soft plastic Metal jig Anchovy Sardine Squid
Source: Anadolu Çevre ve Hayvancılık Bilimleri Dergisi 4(3): 414-421 · MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV)
In season
European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax
A common catch on Marmara shores; comes inshore more often in the cooler months.
Where: River mouths, rocky points, breakwaters; dawn and dusk.
Shore spinning Surfcasting Trolling Minnow (hard bait) Soft plastic Small live fish Peeler crab Ragworm
Golden grey mullet Chelon auratus
Mullets are present along the Marmara shore all year.
Where: Inside harbours, shallow coves, lagoon mouths.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Bread Dough bait Ragworm
Source: Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) · FishBase
Flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus
Caught year-round; in summer near the surface with float and bread.
Where: Harbours, piers and river mouths.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Handline Bread Dough bait Ragworm
Source: Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) · Timeturk
Garfish Belone belone
Seen at the surface in autumn; migrates much like mackerel.
Where: Surface current lines; float rigs.
Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Shore spinning Metal jig Soft plastic Fly Fish strip Mackerel strip Sand eel
Source: Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) · FishBase
Blotched picarel Spicara maena
A small species taken on sabiki rigs year-round; frequent inshore in summer.
Where: Rocky and seagrass bottoms.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Handline Mussel Shrimp Ragworm
Source: Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) · Timeturk
European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus
Rare on rod and line; mainly matters as bluefish bait. Its Marmara season has shifted to mid-October–mid-January in recent years.
Where: Offshore in schools.
Sabiki / feather rig Sabiki feathers
Source: Anadolu Çevre ve Hayvancılık Bilimleri Dergisi 4(3): 414-421 · haberler.com
Occasional
Red mullet Mullus barbatus
An important catch in the southern Marmara; on soft bottoms, more often in the warm months.
Where: Sandy-muddy bottoms; bottom rigs from boats.
Bottom fishing Handline Sabiki / feather rig Ragworm Shrimp Mussel
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
Brown meagre Sciaena umbra
Caught more often in summer and at night.
Where: Rocky shores, caves and reefs.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Live shrimp Ragworm Shrimp
Source: Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) · FishBase
Turbot Scophthalmus maximus
Among target species in the southern Marmara; uncommon on rod and line, mostly bottom fishing from boats.
Where: Sandy and mixed bottoms.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Live bait Horse mackerel Fish strip Anchovy
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
Common two-banded seabream Diplodus vulgaris
An important catch around Kapıdağ; often on the line in early summer. Mussel, ragworm and tube worm are common baits.
Where: Rocky, mussel-covered shores and breakwaters.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Handline Ragworm Mussel Shrimp
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · Timeturk
Tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucerna
An occasional catch on bottom rigs.
Where: Sand and gravel bottoms.
Bottom fishing Drifting Surfcasting Metal jig Horse mackerel Fish strip Mackerel strip
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus
Targeted by coastal fishers in the southern Marmara; month-by-month abundance data are limited.
Where: Around Kapıdağ and the islands, from boats with sabiki rigs.
Sabiki / feather rig Jigging Sabiki feathers Spoon Metal jig
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi
Whiting Merlangius merlangus
A bottom fish recorded in summer at the north-eastern end of the Marmara (Galata).
Where: Deep muddy bottoms.
Sabiki / feather rig Bottom fishing Handline Sabiki feathers Chicken breast Mussel Fish strip
Source: Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) · FishBase
Striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus
Among the catches around Kapıdağ; spawns May–July.
Where: Where rock meets sand on the bottom.
Bottom fishing Handline Surfcasting Ragworm Mud shrimp Shrimp
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase
Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus
One of the migratory pelagics found in the Marmara; scarce today. It winters in deeper water and comes inshore in spring.
Where: Open water; on sabiki rigs.
Sabiki / feather rig Shore spinning Float fishing Sabiki feathers Spinner Fish strip
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · FishBase · CIESM
Sand steenbras Lithognathus mormyrus
The second most caught species around Bandırma–Kapıdağ (16%). Angler activity peaks in June; sand steenbras is mainly targeted on sandy beaches in the warm months.
Where: Sandy beaches and seagrass edges; surfcasting with tube worm or chicken-breast baits.
Surfcasting Bottom fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Lugworm Ragworm Mud shrimp
Source: Anadolu Çevre ve Hayvancılık Bilimleri Dergisi 4(3): 414-421 · Timeturk · FishBase
Black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus
A resident fish of rocky shores. Its spines are venomous.
Where: Among rocks and weed, at the foot of breakwaters; light rock fishing.
Bottom fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Float fishing Soft plastic Jig head Fish strip Horse mackerel Shrimp
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) · FishBase
Big-scale sand smelt Atherina boyeri
Taken inshore on small-hook sabiki rigs; more frequent in spring.
Where: Piers, inside harbours.
Sabiki / feather rig Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Sabiki feathers Bread Dough bait Shrimp
Source: MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV)
European pilchard Sardina pilchardus
Only occasionally caught on rod and line in the Marmara; mostly on fine sabiki rigs and for bait.
Where: Piers and harbours.
Sabiki / feather rig Sabiki feathers
Source: Anadolu Çevre ve Hayvancılık Bilimleri Dergisi 4(3): 414-421 · MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi · Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV)
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.