What Fish to Catch in May

Season opens in May

• Atlantic halibutMay–November
• BarbelMay–October
• Common naseMay–November
• Grass carpMay–October
• GraylingMay–October
• Greater amberjackMay–November
• Red mulletMay–October
• Round sardinellaMay–November
• SaitheMay–October
• Silver carpMay–September
• SwordfishMay–October
• TenchMay–September
• Tub gurnardMay–October

Last chance — season ends this month

• Atlantic herringMarch–May, September–November
• Common dabJanuary–May, September–December
• European hakeJanuary–May, October–December
• European SeabassMarch–May, September–November
• Narrow-barred Spanish mackerelJanuary–May, October–December
• Nile perchJanuary–May, September–December
• PollackJanuary–May, September–December
• Sea troutJanuary–May, September–December

Spawning now

Releasing spawning fish protects next season's stock. Always check local closed seasons and size limits before keeping a fish.

• Aristotle's catfishApril–October
• AspApril–October
• Atlantic bluefin tunaJune–October
• Atlantic herringMarch–May, September–November
• Atlantic mackerelJune–September
• Ballan wrasseApril–November
• BarbelMay–October
• BayadMarch–November
• BluefishSeptember–December
• ChubApril–October
• Common breamApril–October
• Common dabJanuary–May, September–December
• Common soleApril–October
• Dogtooth tunaApril–November
• European lingJanuary–April, October–December
• Golden redfishJanuary–December
• Greasy grouperJanuary–December
• Great barracudaJanuary–December
• Greater amberjackMay–November
• HaddockApril–October
• Italian barbelApril, July–October
• LeerfishMarch–November
• Lesser-spotted dogfishJanuary–December
• Marbled spinefootApril–November
• MeagreApril–November
• Narrow-barred Spanish mackerelJanuary–May, October–December
• Nile tilapiaMarch–November
• Pontic shadMarch–June
• Prussian carpApril–October
• Pumpkinseed sunfishMarch–November
• Red mulletMay–October
• RoachMarch–November
• Roving coral grouperJanuary–December
• Spangled emperorJanuary–December
• Starry smooth-houndApril–September
• Striped seabreamMarch–December
• TenchMay–September
• Thornback rayMarch–October
• Trichonis ruddMarch–November
• Tub gurnardMay–October
• TuskApril–October
• Two-spot red snapperJanuary–December
• Volga zanderApril–November
• Young Bluefish (Çinekop)August–November
• ZiegeApril–September

All species in season in May

• African sharptooth catfish20–33 °CClarias gariepinusThe night predator of the Nile and Lake Nasser, called 'karmout' in Egypt, and it feeds even in turbid, low-oxygen water.
• Arctic char3–13 °CSalvelinus alpinusVertical: 15-25 g lead with a small single-hook fly held 0.5-1 m off the bottom.
• Aristotle's catfish14–26 °CSilurus aristotelisA catfish endemic to Greece, living in the lakes of the Acheloos basin (Trichonida, Lysimachia, Amvrakia, Ozeros) and translocated later to Volvi and Pamvotida.
• Asp12–24 °CLeuciscus aspiusBaits: Casting lead lure (asp jig), Slim spoon, 15–30 g, Pencil / stickbait, Slim shallow minnow
• Atlantic halibut2–9 °CHippoglossus hippoglossus300-600 g shads or rubber octopus, dragged along the bottom on the drift.
• Atlantic herring3–14 °CClupea harengusA 5-8 hook feather or flasher sabiki with 20-60 g lead.
• Atlantic wolffish1–9 °CAnarhichas lupusA static bottom rig; the best baits are mussel, crab and squid.
• Ballan wrasse10–18 °CLabrus bergyltaSmall crab, mussel meat or ragworm under a float or on a light bottom rig.
• Barbel12–22 °CBarbus barbusBaits: Halibut pellets, Boilies, Luncheon meat, Maggots and casters
• Bayad20–31 °CBagrus bajadThe second large catfish of the Nile system; unlike the karmout it prefers flowing water over clean sand and stone and eats mainly fish.
• Bogue14–26 °CBoops boopsA 2-4 hook sabiki or a fine float rig.
• Chub10–23 °CSqualius cephalusFloating bread: no weight, just a hook. The classic and most productive method.
• Common bream12–25 °CAbramis bramaFeeder or method feeder, 0.22-0.26 mm mainline, size 12-14 hooks.
• Common dab3–16 °CLimanda limandaIt has a small mouth: use size 6-4 hooks and small bait; a whole big lugworm is wasted.
• Common nase8–18 °CChondrostoma nasusFloat: 2-4 g, drifted naturally with the current, 10-20 cm off the bottom.
• Common sole9–21 °CSolea soleaThe soft silty bottom of the Nile delta is Egypt's best sole ground; off Ras El Bar and the Burullus outlet they come right inshore in winter.
• Dogtooth tuna24–31 °CGymnosarda unicolorA large scombrid tied to the steep walls of the Red Sea, found on the 1000 m plus axis of the Gulf of Aqaba off Sharm and along the outer reef edge at Marsa Alam.
• Dusky grouper14–25 °CEpinephelus marginatusThe dusky grouper is a solitary ambush fish holding in caves and crevices along rocky Adriatic headlands.
• European conger12–22 °CConger congerHeavy bottom rig: 100-150 g lead, 0.60-0.80 mm mono trace, 2/0-5/0 hooks.
• European flounder4–21 °CPlatichthys flesusLugworm and mussel are the most productive; shrimp and herring strip also work.
• European hake8–18 °CMerluccius merlucciusLives over the muddy 80-200 m bottom of the broad shelf between Tripoli and Misratah and is the main commercial species of the Libyan trawl fishery.
• European plaice4–17 °CPleuronectes platessaLugworm is best; mussel and shrimp also work.
• European sardine13–24 °CSardina pilchardusShoals hold close inshore in summer and early autumn; mole heads and the water under harbour lights are the best places.
• European Seabass8–24 °CDicentrarchus labraxUse 7–13 cm minnows/jerkbaits, 7–10 cm shads and pencils/poppers in calm low light.
• European whitefish4–15 °CCoregonus lavaretusHegene: 4-6 small nymph droppers, 0.14-0.18 mm mainline, 10-20 g weight. Slow lift-and-drop rhythm; most takes come on the pause.
• Giant trevally24–31 °CCaranx ignobilisBaits: Popper (100–200 g), Stickbait (100–250 g), Metal jig, Live bait (bonito, mackerel scad)
• Golden redfish2–8 °CSebastes norvegicusA 300-500 g pilk with two or three feathered hooks above it, worked in short lifts 1-3 m off the bottom.
• Grass carp16–30 °CCtenopharyngodon idellaGrass carp are stocked every year in Hungary and double-figure fish are routine in the lakes.
• Grayling4–17 °CThymallus thymallusFrench nymphing: slim perdigons with 2.5-3.5 mm tungsten beads on a long fine leader.
• Greasy grouper22–31 °CEpinephelus tauvinaThe classic inshore grouper of Red Sea reefs, known in Egypt as 'hamour'.
• Great barracuda23–31 °CSphyraena barracudaThe large Red Sea barracuda, a different species from the small Mediterranean Sphyraena sphyraena, and in Egypt it is found only along the Red Sea and Sinai coast.
• Greater amberjack18–27 °CSeriola dumeriliOn the Egyptian Mediterranean this species is tied to clear water, so it is far more frequent along the Marsa Matruh-Sallum stretch than off the Nile delta.
• Haddock2–11 °CMelanogrammus aeglefinusTwo-hook bottom rig with herring or mackerel strip, or shrimp.
• Lake trout4–14 °CSalmo trutta lacustrisSlow trolling at 2-3.5 km/h with 9-14 cm long spoons or minnow plugs.
• Leerfish17–29 °CLichia amiaBaits: Live mullet, Live garfish or sardine, Topwater pencil (walk-the-dog), Soft-plastic swimbait
• Lesser-spotted dogfish7–18 °CScyliorhinus caniculaMackerel strip, squid or worm — any scented bait works, on a 1/0–3/0 hook.
• Marble trout5–15 °CSalmo marmoratusHeavy nymphs (perdigon, 3-4 mm tungsten) drifted along the bottom; the larger fish hold deep.
• Marbled spinefoot20–31 °CSiganus rivulatusA Red Sea species that crossed into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, so in Egypt it occurs both in its native range and along the northern coast, where it is among the…
• Meagre15–26 °CArgyrosomus regiusThe mouths of the Damietta and Rosetta branches of the Nile are the classic Egyptian meagre ground; the turbid band where fresh and salt water mix brings the fish inshore.
• Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel22–30 °CScomberomorus commersonThe most heavily fished pelagic of the Red Sea, known in Egypt as 'derak', with its main season in the cool months from November to April.
• Nile perch22–32 °CLates niloticusThe trophy fish of Lake Nasser, a freshwater predator that can exceed 100 kg.
• Nile tilapia20–33 °COreochromis niloticusEgypt's most caught and most eaten freshwater fish, present everywhere along the Nile, in the delta lakes and in the shallow bays of Lake Nasser.
• Pollack8–16 °CPollachius pollachius12–20 cm shads on 20–40 g jigheads: drop to the bottom and lift slowly.
• Pontic shad8–18 °CAlosa immaculataA migratory shoaling fish that grows in the Black Sea and runs up the Danube to spawn.
• Prussian carp14–28 °CCarassius gibelioPresent in almost every Bulgarian reservoir and in the still arms of the Danube, this is the most commonly caught freshwater fish in the country.
• Pumpkinseed sunfish15–30 °CLepomis gibbosusA widespread non-native species in Portuguese inland waters, abundant along the shallow weedy margins of Alqueva and the Guadiana basin.
• Red mullet10–22 °CMullus barbatusBaits: Ragworm, Lugworm, Shrimp, Small squid strips
• Roach8–22 °CRutilus rutilusFloat: 0.5-2 g, size 14-18 hook, 0.10-0.14 mm hooklength.
• Round sardinella18–28 °CSardinella auritaA shoaling baitfish that likes warmer water than the European sardine and gives a longer season on the Egyptian Mediterranean.
• Roving coral grouper23–31 °CPlectropomus pessuliferusCalled 'najil' in the Red Sea and rated by Egyptian fishermen as the most valuable coral grouper; it lives in the 15-50 m band of the Safaga and Marsa Alam reefs.
• Saithe6–14 °CPollachius virensPilks or heavy spoons of 30-80 g, fast retrieve off the bottom with sudden pauses.
• Salema16–27 °CSarpa salpaLight float rig, size 14-16 hooks, 0.16-0.20 mm leader.
• Sea trout2–14 °CSalmo trutta truttaSpoons of 12-24 g and sandeel imitations; small and slow in winter, livelier in spring.
• Shorthorn sculpin (bull-rout)0–12 °CMyoxocephalus scorpiusThe easiest fish to catch from the Icelandic shore: it lies in ambush among stones and pier legs and inhales anything that passes.
• Silver carp16–30 °CHypophthalmichthys molitrixA large plankton-feeding cyprinid present in huge numbers in the Tisza, the Danube and Lake Tisza.
• Spangled emperor22–31 °CLethrinus nebulosusThe most widespread table-quality bottom fish of the Red Sea sand-to-reef transitions and the number one target of the day boats at Hurghada, Safaga and Marsa Alam (local name…
• Starry smooth-hound12–19 °CMustelus asteriasStarry smooth-hound are crab hunters, taken from the shore between April and September in the Thames Estuary, Bristol Channel and Milford Haven.
• Striped seabream15–28 °CLithognathus mormyrusThe white sand belt at Marsa Matruh is ideal for this species: it patrols the 1-3 m gutters just beyond the wave line, digging for sand worms.
• Swordfish18–27 °CXiphias gladiusIn the Strait of Messina the tidal current lifts deep water to the surface, so swordfish come shallower here than anywhere else on the Italian coast.
• Tench15–26 °CTinca tincaFloat: 1-3 g, bait static on the bottom in 40-80 cm of water.
• Thornback ray8–17 °CRaja clavataA single big bait of mackerel fillet, squid or lugworm on a 3/0–5/0 hook.
• Tigerfish22–33 °CHydrocynus forskahliiThe second most sporting species of Lake Nasser; it reaches about 7 kg and fights with airborne jumps on light tackle.
• Trichonis rudd12–26 °CScardinius acarnanicusA rudd endemic to western Greece, found in the Acheloos basin lakes - Trichonida, Lysimachia, Ozeros and Amvrakia.
• Tub gurnard10–18 °CChelidonichthys lucernaTub gurnard come inshore over clean sand and gravel mostly in the warm months, May to October.
• Tusk3–9 °CBrosme brosmeA heavy bottom rig with whole dead bait (herring, mackerel, squid) is most effective.
• Two-spot red snapper23–31 °CLutjanus boharA big lutjanid known as 'bohar' in the Red Sea; it roams the 20-60 m band of the reef walls off Hurghada, Safaga and Sharm in loose groups.
• Volga zander10–24 °CSander volgensisThe smaller, hard-bottom-loving relative of the zander, widespread in Hungary in the Danube, the Tisza, Balaton and Lake Tisza.
• White seabream14–26 °CDiplodus sargusMussel meat, marine worm, shrimp or crab pieces on a strong size 8-12 hook.
• Ziege12–26 °CPelecus cultratusA silver, sickle-bodied shoal fish that lives close to the surface and is characteristic of Balaton and the Tisza.