# Fishing from a charter yacht in Turkey: licence, catch limits and no-fishing bays

> Fishing in Turkey from a charter yacht: guests need an avlanma fişi unless the boat has a fishing-tourism permit. 5 kg limit, no-fishing bays. Sourced.

URL: https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/turkey/
Last updated: 2026-10-28
Author: Catamaran Index editorial team

Tourists may fish from the shore in Turkey without a document, but to fish from a charter yacht guests need an amateur fishing slip (avlanma fişi) from the provincial agriculture directorate, unless the boat holds a fishing-tourism permit; we could not confirm what the slip costs. Each person may keep 5 kg (or one fish over 5 kg), and several popular charter bays in the Gökova and Hisarönü gulfs and around Kaş are closed to fishing.

*Checked 28 Oct 2026 against 2 official sources and 4 secondary sources ([sources](#sources)). Anything we could not confirm is labelled ([how to read the labels](#labels)). Rules change: check with the authority or your charter company before you fish.*

## Do I need a fishing licence on a charter in Turkey?

- **Licence needed:** From a boat only (avlanma fişi).
- **Issued by:** Provincial/district Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry (Tarım ve Orman Müdürlüğü) ([Resmî Gazete (Official Gazette of Türkiye)](https://resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2024/08/20240811-4.htm)).
- **Cost:** **[Not verified]** not verified
- **Valid for:** **[Not verified]** Avlanma fişi: validity not verified. Tebliğ 2024/21 is valid 1 Sep 2024–31 Aug 2028.

- Tebliğ 6/2 (No 2024/21), Art. 5: tourists may fish from the shore without a document.
- To fish at sea from a boat they need either a vessel holding a 'Ticari Amaçlı Amatör Balıkçılık Turizm İzni' (commercial amateur-fishing tourism permit) or an avlanma fişi (Annex 3) from the directorate.
- **[Not confirmed in the official text]** Foreign residents can get a 2-year Misafir Amatör Balıkçı Belgesi (search summary).
- **[Secondary source]** Amendment 2026/26: from 1 Sep 2027 amateur fishing vessels need a Vessel Permit Certificate (secondary: denizde.com.tr).

This is a fishing licence. To skipper the yacht yourself you need a sailing licence or résumé, which is a different document: [sailing licence requirements in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/turkey/#licence).

## What can I catch in Turkey?

| Species | Scientific name | How it is caught | Best months | IUCN status | Endemic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluefish (lüfer) | *Pomatomus saltatrix* | trolling, spinning | Sep–Mar ([guide](https://www.fishingworldguide.com/en/blog/fishing-in-turkey)) | [Vulnerable (VU)](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pomatomus-saltatrix.html) | No |
| Greater amberjack (akya/sarıkuyruk) | *Seriola dumerili* | jigging | Sep–Oct ([guide](https://www.fishingworldguide.com/en/blog/fishing-in-turkey)) | [Least Concern (LC)](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Seriola-dumerili.html) | No |
| Common dentex (sinarit) | *Dentex dentex* | jigging | Not verified | [Vulnerable (VU)](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dentex-dentex.html) | No |
| Atlantic bonito (palamut) | *Sarda sarda* | trolling | Not verified | [Least Concern (LC)](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sarda-sarda.html) | No |
| Leerfish (akya) | *Lichia amia* | spinning, live bait | Not verified | [Least Concern (LC)](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lichia-amia.html) | No |
| Lionfish (invasive) | *Pterois miles* | spearfishing removal | Not verified | [Least Concern (LC)](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pterois-miles.html) | No |
| Silver-cheeked toadfish (invasive, toxic) | *Lagocephalus sceleratus* | bycatch — do not eat | Not verified | [Least Concern (LC)](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lagocephalus-sceleratus.html) | No |

Notes on these species (local rules and FishBase):

- **Lionfish (invasive):** Invasive in the E. Mediterranean (FishBase).

Threatened on the IUCN Red List (global): Bluefish (lüfer) (VU), Common dentex (sinarit) (VU). Best months are from fishing guides (secondary sources); IUCN status from FishBase ([how to read the labels](#labels)).

## Catch limits and fishing rules

- Sea catch: 5 kg total per person, or one fish over 5 kg; if the largest fish is excluded, the rest must be ≤4 kg. Species counted by number: max 3 in total
- **[Secondary source]** Minimum sizes in Çizelge 7 (image tables, not extracted); 5% tolerance. Secondary (fishradar.ai): bluefish 18 cm, dentex 35 cm; greater amberjack 30 cm, 1/day, closed 15 Apr–15 May (not verified against the official text)
- Max 4 lines with ≤6 hooks each, plus 1 çapari (≤15 hooks). Traps, longlines (parakete) and drop lines banned
- No fishing in buoyed swim areas or within 200 m of shore, 1 Apr–15 Nov; no fishing within 100 m of fish farms; lights for fishing banned; sale banned

## Where to fish from a charter yacht

- **Gökova Gulf (outside no-take bays):** popular charter cruising ground; several bays are no-fishing under Art. 17. *Source: Tebliğ 2024/21.*
- **Hisarönü Gulf / Bozburun:** charter area with listed no-fishing bays. *Source: Tebliğ 2024/21.*
- **Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye offshore:** bluefish, amberjack. *Source: secondary: fishingworldguide.com.*

Spots are suggestions from fishing guides and operators unless an official text is named. Check protected areas before you anchor to fish.

## Protected areas and no-take zones

- Kaş: Bohça İskelesi, Ufakdere, Beşadalar, İnceburun, Çondur Burnu, Bucak Denizi
- Kumluca Üç Adalar (line fishing allowed)
- Fethiye harbour (except shore lines)
- İztuzu/Dalyan (1 Nov–30 Apr)
- Hisarönü Gulf: Kurucabük and Çiftlik bays, Kargı Koyu, Selimiye Koyu, Bozburun–Söğüt line
- Gökova Gulf: Bördübet Limanı, Boncuk Koyu/Karaca Limanı, Çamlı Limanı, Akyaka, Akbük Limanı
- Gökçeada underwater park, Yıldız–Çiftlik Koyu (1 mile)
- Güllük Dalyanı (500 m)
- Mediterranean monk seal caves: no entry, anchoring or fishing

## Spearfishing rules

- Spearfishing: sunrise to sunset only, no lights, no scuba or hookah, buoy required; guns and air pressure banned

## On a charter yacht: what guests need to know

From a charter yacht, guests need an avlanma fişi from the directorate unless the boat holds a fishing-tourism permit. Keep clear of the Art. 17 bays in Gökova, Hisarönü and Kaş.

Planning the trip around the fish? See the [best time to charter in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/turkey/), month by month, and the [Turkey charter overview](https://catamaranindex.com/turkey/).

## See boats in Turkey

**[See boats for rent in Turkey on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=turkey&pos=fishing)**

Fishing rules apply whoever you book with; listings and prices on SamBoat are SamBoat's own. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)).

## What we could not verify

- not verified
- Avlanma fişi: validity not verified. Tebliğ 2024/21 is valid 1 Sep 2024–31 Aug 2028.
- Best months for Common dentex (sinarit), Atlantic bonito (palamut), Leerfish (akya), Lionfish (invasive), Silver-cheeked toadfish (invasive, toxic)

## How to read the labels

- **[Secondary source]**: From a non-government source (guide, club, operator or news); not official.
- **[Not confirmed in the official text]**: An official rule we could only read in a search summary, because we could not open the official text.
- **[Not verified]**: We could not confirm it.
- No label: Read in an official source (government, statutory body or the legal text).

Best months come from fishing guides and charter operators (secondary sources), not from regulators: treat them as a guide. IUCN status is the species' global Red List category as FishBase shows it (Red List 2025-2), not a local fishing rule. "Endemic" means FishBase gives a range limited to one sea; "No" means FishBase shows a wide distribution.

## Sources

- [Resmî Gazete (Official Gazette of Türkiye): Resmî Gazete – Tebliğ 6/2 (2024/21)](https://resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2024/08/20240811-4.htm) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Trabzon Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry: Trabzon İl Tarım – announcement](https://trabzon.tarimorman.gov.tr/Duyuru/241/11-Agustos-2024-Tarihli-Ve-32629-Sayili-Resmi-Gazetede-Yayimlanan-6_2-Numarali-Amator-Amacli-Su-Urunleri-Avciliginin-Duzenlenmesi-Hakkinda-Teblig) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Deniz Ticaret Odası (Chamber of Shipping): Deniz Ticaret Odası – amendment 2026/26](https://www.denizticaretodasi.org.tr/tr/sirkuler/6-2-numarali-amator-amacli-su-urunleri-avciliginin-duzenlenmesi-hakkinda-teblig-teblig-no--2024-21-de-degisiklik-yapilmasina-dair-teblig-no--2026-26-hk-24270) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [denizde.com.tr (news): denizde.com.tr – vessel permit](https://denizde.com.tr/en/haberler/amator-balikcilikta-teknelere-ruhsat-zorunlulugu-getirildi) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Fishradar (fishing guide): Fishradar Türkiye regs](https://fishradar.ai/fishing/regulations/turkiye-denizler-marine-waters/) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Fishing World Guide: Fishing World Guide Turkey](https://www.fishingworldguide.com/en/blog/fishing-in-turkey) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- FishBase species summaries (reference database, IUCN status as shown, Red List 2025-2), checked 28 Oct 2026: [Pomatomus saltatrix](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pomatomus-saltatrix.html), [Seriola dumerili](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Seriola-dumerili.html), [Dentex dentex](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dentex-dentex.html), [Sarda sarda](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sarda-sarda.html), [Lichia amia](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lichia-amia.html), [Pterois miles](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pterois-miles.html), [Lagocephalus sceleratus](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lagocephalus-sceleratus.html).

Method: [methodology](https://catamaranindex.com/methodology/#fishing). Data: [JSON](https://catamaranindex.com/api/fishing/turkey.json).

## More on fishing and Turkey

- [Fishing on a yacht charter: every destination compared](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/)
- [Best time to charter in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/turkey/)
- [Turkey yacht and catamaran charter: prices, season and licence](https://catamaranindex.com/turkey/)

## FAQ

### Do I need a fishing licence on a charter yacht in Turkey?

Tourists may fish from the shore in Turkey without a document, but to fish from a charter yacht guests need an amateur fishing slip (avlanma fişi) from the provincial agriculture directorate, unless the boat holds a fishing-tourism permit; we could not confirm what the slip costs. Each person may keep 5 kg (or one fish over 5 kg), and several popular charter bays in the Gökova and Hisarönü gulfs and around Kaş are closed to fishing.

### How much does a fishing licence cost in Turkey?

Not verified.

### What fish can you catch in Turkey?

Common targets include bluefish, greater amberjack, common dentex, Atlantic bonito, leerfish. Local rules: Lionfish: invasive in the E. Mediterranean (FishBase).

### Can you spearfish in Turkey?

Spearfishing: sunrise to sunset only, no lights, no scuba or hookah, buoy required; guns and air pressure banned

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