Jigs for horse mackerel
Trachurus mediterraneus
In Turkish, istavrit is the name for horse mackerel of the genus Trachurus. Most of the studies in our sources are on the Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus)[1][3][8]; the study in the Gulf of Edremit covers Trachurus trachurus[9]. A study with recreational anglers in the Black Sea lists it among the species they caught[10].
Open the Jig Selector with horse mackerel →All jigs for horse mackerel
JIGTO for horse mackerel
TIDE 10
TIDE 12This match comes from JIGTO’s product data; it is not a weight measured in the sources.
Season chart
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sea | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | no record– | no record– | no record– |
| Bosphorus | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– |
| Sea of Marmara | no record– | no record– | no record– | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | no record– | no record– | no record– |
| Dardanelles | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– |
| Aegean Sea | active periodA | active periodA | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | spawning periodS | active periodA | active periodA | active periodA | no record– |
| Mediterranean | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– | no record– |
Sspawning periodAactive period–no record
The chart shows whether the sources hold a record for that region and month; it does not show the chance of a catch. An empty cell does not mean the fish is absent, only that there is no sourced record.
The chart shows no record for Mediterranean; the unverified field information section below has a record for this region.
Records
Black Sea · June–September · spawning period
A study in the eastern Black Sea interprets June–September as the horse mackerel spawning period; a bulletin reports that they spawn offshore in summer. [1][2][3]
Sea of Marmara · April · spawning period
According to a study in the Gulf of Bandırma cited in a review, horse mackerel spawning in the southern Sea of Marmara starts in April. [1][4][5]
Sea of Marmara · May–September · spawning period
According to studies in the northeastern Sea of Marmara and Bandırma cited in a review, horse mackerel spawn from May to September. [1][6]
Aegean Sea · January–February · active period
In a study in İzmir and Çandarlı, horse mackerel samples were taken from the commercial net catch in January–February; at Datça-Bozburun they are also reported to be netted in winter. [7][8]
Aegean Sea · March · spawning period
According to a Gulf of Edremit study cited in a review, spawning starts in March in one horse mackerel species. [1]
Aegean Sea · April–August · spawning period
According to a study in the Gulf of Edremit, one horse mackerel species spawns from April to August. [9]
Aegean Sea · September–November · active period
In a study in the bays of İzmir and Çandarlı, horse mackerel samples were taken from the commercial net catch in September–November. [8]
Unverified field information
The records below are not confirmed by a scientific measurement; they come from an angling guide or a general species description. They are kept apart from the chart and the record count above.
Unverified Sea of Marmara · December–February · active period
According to an angling guide, horse mackerel may also be found in the Sea of Marmara in winter, but in deeper spots at this time.
- İBB. İstanbul olta balıkçılığı rehberi. Study area: Marmara / Bosphorus. (institutional guide) https://tarim.ibb.istanbul/img/1015194102017__5808679461a.pdf
- Balık Sever (baliksever.com). İstavrit Avı Ne Zaman Yapılır? Bölgelere Göre Kıyı Takvimi, 2026-04-12. Study area: Marmara / Mediterranean. (web page, not a measurement) https://baliksever.com/istavrit-avi-ne-zaman-yapilir/
- Fach BA, Cagdas B, Arkin SS, Salihoglu B, Tezcan D (2024). Investigating the impact of cross-shelf transport and local retention in the Black Sea Rim Current system on small pelagic fishes. Study area: Marmara · outside Türkiye. (study outside Türkiye) https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1435556
Unverified Mediterranean · June–August · active period
According to an angling guide, horse mackerel do not disappear from the Mediterranean in summer, but they may move deeper during the day.
- Balık Sever (baliksever.com). İstavrit Avı Ne Zaman Yapılır? Bölgelere Göre Kıyı Takvimi, 2026-04-12. Study area: Marmara / Mediterranean. (web page, not a measurement) https://baliksever.com/istavrit-avi-ne-zaman-yapilir/
Light and colour
- Glow + UV Charges in daylight or torchlight and glows in the dark. Reacts to UV in sunlight.
- UV Lights up under UV and in sunlight underwater. Does not glow in the dark.
- Natural Classic colour and holographic finish, for clear water and bright days.
None of our sources shows that a jig catches more fish because of its colour, glow or UV. Choose the light class by the light in the water and your own preference.
Closed seasons and minimum sizes
In Türkiye, recreational fishing rules are set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in its Notification No. 6/2 on recreational fishing. Rules change; check the current version before you fish. Outside Türkiye, follow your local rules. Ministry page on fishing (Turkish) ↗
Frequently asked questions
When is horse mackerel season?
According to the sources, horse mackerel spawn in May–September in the Sea of Marmara[1], in April–August in the Aegean[9] and in June–September in the eastern Black Sea[3]. In the bays of İzmir and Çandarlı, samples were taken from the commercial net catch all year round[8]. These records do not show the chance of a catch.
What jig weight for horse mackerel?
In JIGTO’s product data, horse mackerel is a target species of these series: TIDE 10, TIDE 12. Weights run from 10 to 12 g, with a suggested depth of 1–20 m. The deeper the water and the stronger the current, the heavier the series. This match is JIGTO’s product data; it is not a weight measured in the sources.
References
- Daban İB (2021). Türkiye Deniz Balıklarının Üreme Biyolojisi Araştırmaları Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme. Study area: Black Sea / Marmara / Aegean. (review) https://doi.org/10.46384/jmsf.983779
- Polat H, Ergün H (2008). Karadeniz'in Pelajik Balıkları. Study area: Black Sea / Bosphorus / Marmara / Aegean. (institutional guide) https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/204324
- Şahin C, Ceylan Y (2023). Doğu Karadeniz'de İstavrit (Trachurus mediterraneus) Balığının Yaş, Büyüme Parametreleri ve İlk Eşeysel Olgunluk Boyunun Belirlenmesi. Study area: Black Sea. https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.1218067
- İBB. İstanbul olta balıkçılığı rehberi. Study area: Marmara / Bosphorus. (institutional guide) https://tarim.ibb.istanbul/img/1015194102017__5808679461a.pdf
- Keskin Ç (2012). A preliminary study on juvenile fishes in the Istanbul Strait (Bosphorus). Study area: Marmara. https://blackmeditjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/vol18no1pdf4.pdf
- Ayyıldız H, Özen Ö, Altın A (2014). Growth and hatching of annular seabream, Diplodus annularis, from Turkey determined from otolith microstructure. Study area: Marmara / Dardanelles. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002531541400040X
- Akyol O, Ceyhan T (2007). Datça-Bozburun Yarımadası (Ege Denizi) Kıyı Balıkçılığı ve Sorunları Üzerine Bir Araştırma. Study area: Aegean / Mediterranean. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/57543
- Bayhan B, Sever TM, Kara A (2013). Diet composition of the Mediterranean horse mackerel, Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner, 1868) (Osteichthyes: Carangidae), from the Aegean Sea. Study area: Aegean. https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2013.120
- Ulunehir Aydın G, Erdoğan Z (2018). Edremit Körfezi (Kuzey Ege Denizi, Türkiye)'nden avlanan Trachurus trachurus (L., 1758)'un bazı üreme özellikleri. Study area: Aegean. https://doi.org/10.25092/baunfbed.412525
- Erbay M, Carlson A, Grati F (2024). Evaluating the unexplored recreational fishing in the Turkish Black Sea: socio-economic significance and environmental impact. Study area: Black Sea. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1386911
This page is based on 7 sourced season records and 10 sources. The season records are the approved data the JIGTO Jig Selector also uses. 2 unverified records are listed separately and are not included in this count.