Leerfish is a type of small scaled fish from the Lichiidae family, mackerel family. In some regions, it is known by names such as naked, forked tail, lychee fish, leka fish, and lady fish.
Although it reaches 1 meter in length and 30-35 kilos in weight in our country's waters, it can have a maximum length of 180 cm and a weight of 60 kg. Leerfish eat molluscs, crustaceans and small fish. It also wanders in small flocks on the sea bottom near the shore. Adults prefer to travel alone.
Leerfish, a very strong, combative and predatory fish species, attacks schools of fish mercilessly, killing them even if it does not eat them. With this feature, bluefish. When it is hungry, it attacks not only fish but also squid and shrimp. In the past, they were overfished with wrong and illegal hunting techniques, such as using strong lights to exaggerate the fish in the dark of night, and their numbers have decreased greatly. That's why whitefish is in danger of extinction. With the measures taken today, this situation has decreased, but there has been no significant increase in the number of fish.
Because its appearance resembles a bluefish, fishermen often sell the whitefish as the big fish of the big bluefish. The breeding season of whitefish lasts throughout the spring, from mid-April to the end of June. The average lifespan of whitefish is about 14 years.
The body type is oval, close to ellipse, and flattened from the sides. The back is blue or green-brown and the belly is silver. Young Leerfish may have brown bands on the sides of their bodies. The Leerfish has small scales that are very well integrated into its body, it looks as if it has no scales. For this reason, Leerfish are called naked fish or fish without scales in some regions. The Leerfish, which has no scales on its head, has two dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin consists of eight spines, and the first spine near the fish's head points forward. These spines are one of the characteristic features that distinguish Leerfish from other fish.
The white bird has a large head and mouth, its lower jaw is longer than the upper one, and its eyes are normal sized. The Leerfish has teeth that resemble sandpaper. Although these teeth are not strong enough to cut fishing gear, they can seriously wear it down. It has backward-pointing teeth (vomer) on its tongue and palate, which are used to hold prey.
The second dorsal fin and the anal fin start at the same level and their tips are close to black. This blackness can also be seen at the tips of other fins. The caudal fin is forked. The very distinctive lateral line of the whitefish is one of its most distinguishing features. It starts from the gill cover, goes parallel to the back until the tip of the pectoral fin, at this point it descends with a sharp curve towards the abdomen, under the pectoral fin, rises again and goes straight to the tail. The whitefish, which is an extremely agile, agile and agile fish, can make sudden movements to the right, left, forward and backward.
How and When to Catch Leerfish?
Leerfish is a very difficult fish caught from mid-summer, especially between July and September. When you go hunting on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, if you see small fish moving, you can understand that a whitefish is passing by. It is difficult and troublesome to fish with spoons or long rods. Because the whitefish disappears as soon as it senses danger.
Leerfish hunting can be done using natural or artificial bait. As natural bait, mackerel, large sardine, Fish such as mulletand bluefish can be used alive or dead. If you want to have an enjoyable and productive hunt, using live bait is a better choice. Dead squid is also a bait that can be used in leprechaun hunting. Since Leerfish go to shallow areas and attack young fish there, they can be caught from the shore by using tackle, baiting and casting.
We recommend that you use quality materials for Leerfish, which is a heavy fish. At the same time, it will not be easy to get it out of the water. When caught, the whitefish tries to take control and escape immediately. At this point, you should keep the fishing line tense without letting it loose in order to maintain control. Leerfish can frustrate the team with a sudden move.
Where Do Leerfish Live?
The Leerfish lives in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions of our country, but it is also found in the Western Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. It often enters river mouths that flow into the sea and feeds on young fish. These are suitable places for enthusiasts trying to hunt leer. Those who sit on the shore and watch the sea or amateur fishermen who try to catch fish may sometimes see large fish attacking young fish by splashing the water like a storm among the fish. If these fish are not barracuda, they are generally leer or their close relatives. When it comes to the shores and attacks, it is also caught by amateur fishermen fishing in that area.
What are the benefits of Leerfish?
A high percentage of Leerfish omega-3. Thanks to this feature, it has many benefits. Whitefish lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. Therefore, it has a preventive effect against heart attack and obesity. It is a type of fish that lowers high blood pressure and helps balance blood pressure. It is recommended to consume two or three times a week. It is usually made into leerfish soup or stir-fried.
