Leerfish Fishing

• South Africa (known as garrick): a prized shore and estuary target along the east coast, often following shoals of mullet and sardine.
• Mediterranean: Spain (palometón), Italy (leccia amia), Croatia, Greece and Turkey (akya). Best from late summer into autumn around harbours, river mouths and rocky points.
• Portugal and the Atlantic coast of Africa: surf beaches and estuary mouths.
• Egypt: the Port Said breakwater and the Suez Canal mouth.

Leerfish hunt along current lines and in the first light of day. A school of mullet suddenly scattering at the surface is the sign to cast.

• Silver body with a dark greenish-grey back, deep and laterally compressed.
• The wavy lateral line, which curves up and down along the flank, is the easiest mark to spot.
• Unlike amberjack and other jacks, it has no hard scutes near the tail.

• Shore-caught fish are commonly 3–10 kg; fish over 20 kg are possible.

• Live mullet: the number one bait for big fish, free-lined or under a float.
• Live garfish or sardine: excellent where mullet are scarce.
• Topwater pencil (walk-the-dog): 10–14 cm, worked fast when fish are chasing bait.
• Soft-plastic swimbait: 12–18 cm on a jighead, steady retrieve along current seams.
• Spoon or metal jig: for long casts and deeper water.

• Hook the mullet lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal fin and let it swim naturally.
• When a leerfish takes, give it several seconds to turn and swallow before you set the hook.
• The jaw is bony: use sharp, strong circle or J hooks (5/0–7/0) and a 0.50–0.70 mm fluorocarbon leader.

• Leerfish fight hard and long; release fish quickly and support them in the water.
• Size and bag limits vary by country and region, so check local rules before keeping fish.
• The flesh is good eating when very fresh; bleed and ice the fish immediately.