Boops boops
Season calendar
- Season
- January–December
- Water temperature
- 14–26 °C
- Spawning
- January–March
- Behaviour
- Shoaling baitfish
Techniques
- Float fishing
- light bottom rig
- sabiki
Timing
- Present all year, most abundant from May to November.
- After dark it gathers near the surface around lit piers.
Where
- Harbour mouths, mole tips and around anchored boats.
- Open water from 5 to 30 m; it always travels in shoals.
Technique
- A 2-4 hook sabiki or a fine float rig.
- Bait: shrimp pieces, sardine flesh, bread paste, marine worm.
- Groundbait of breadcrumb or fishmeal keeps the shoal under the rod.
- Hooks size 12-16; the mouth is small and big hooks miss.
Note
There is no minimum size, but put the small ones back; the shoal depends on it.
Frequently asked
- When is the best time to catch bogue?
- The productive window for bogue runs January–December. January–March is the spawning period; releasing your catch during these months is strongly advised.
- What water temperature does bogue feed in?
- Bogue is most active between 14 and 26 °C. Outside that band its feeding rate drops off.
- How do you fish for bogue?
- Common methods: Float fishing, light bottom rig, sabiki.