Fishing in Çeşme is popular for locals and tourists, thanks to its rich marine biodiversity and pristine waters. The main hubs for shore fishing are Çeşme waterfront, harbours, marinas and beaches. The Aegean Sea around Çeşme offers rich opportunities for deep-sea fishing, and both Çeşme and Alaçatı Marinas host major fishing competitions at the end of the summer. Species you can catch fishing in Çeşme inshore include sea bream, mullet, sea bass, red mullet, and mackerel. Fishing in Çeşme offshore includes tuna, swordfish, grouper, amberjack, and bluefish.
Fishing in Çeşme – Table of Contents
Fishing Equipment
Güçlü Balık
Güçlü Balik – Musalla, 35930 Çeşme/İzmir – Traditional old-style fishing tackle shop, on 1015 Sok., close to the Antik Rıdvan Otel and Çeşme Marina with a comprehensive range of fishing rods and accessories, nets and traps for sea fishing. Listed on Google as a Fish Restaurant, it certainly is not.
Çeşme Balık Malzemeleri Hür Deniz Balık Av Malzemeleri
Çeşme Balık Malzemeleri Hür Deniz Balık Av Malzemeleri – No:80/2 Gören Pasajı, Atatürk Blv., 35930 Çeşme/İzmir – Small shop in a passageway just off the main square at the top of the town centre on Mehmetçik Parkı/Cumhuriyet Meydanı with an extensive range of fishing reels, lines, lures/spinners and hooks, as well as nets and traps.
Başkaya Denizcilik
Başkaya Denizcilik – 16 Eylül, 3002. Sk. No:21, 35930 Çeşme/İzmir – Website – Fishing, diving and boat supplies shop inside the old concrete central shopping mall behind the Pehlivanoğlu supermarket. Sells many items besides fishing tackle, including diving equipment, motors, clothing, leisure and hunting gear.
Fishing Boat Trips
Private Fishing Tours
Full-day and half-day private fishing trips can be organised and negotiated from the marinas and small harbours in Çeşme, Dalyan, and Ilica. It is advised to book at least a day in advance by looking along the harbours for boats advertising rentals “Kiralık” with either a member of the crew on board or a telephone number. Fishing equipment, food and beverages provided and available on each boat can vary considerably, so you should check what is included and what you should bring.
Organised Fishing Tours
Several daytime party boats moored on Çeşme promenade also organise fishing trips. These include, for example, The Lady Bente, which, subject to demand and weather, organises fishing tours every Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday for up to 25 people.
World Fishing Day in Çeşme – 21 November
In coordination with the UN and WWF, World Fisheries Day is celebrated worldwide on 21 November annually. The primary purpose behind this day is to highlight the importance of sustainable fisheries stocks worldwide, strengthen human rights for small-scale fishing communities, make a genuine difference in the working conditions of fishing communities, and eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
In 2024, on Sunday, 24 November, to commemorate the event, Çeşme Municipality organised the 3rd “Come Fish” festival at Ildır Port (Limanı). The 2nd “Come Fish” festival was previously held on Sunday, 20 November 2022, also at Ildır Port. The festival includes competitive fishing activities, sustainable fishing seminars, fish gastronomy and preparation workshops, documentary presentations, and art exhibitions.
Competition Fishing
The Raymarine Tuna Masters Alaçatı Season Final
2024 Tuna Masters Website – 14-17 September 2023 / 19-22 September 2024
The Raymarine Tuna Masters Alaçatı Season Final is a competition that has been hosted by Alaçatı Marina eighteen times up to 2024. The competition takes place in mid-September (before 2020 in early October) and is over four days (Thursday-Sunday), with two days of fishing from 08:00-14:00/16:30. The largest single catch, typically of Bluefin Tuna, is often more than 100kg (2018 was 158.0kg and 2022 was 154.4kg).
Only (non-wire) line fishing is permitted, and fish species include Bluefin Tuna, Albacore Tuna, Skipjack Tuna, Swordfish, Mediterranean Spearfish, Dorado, Greater Amberjack, Leerfish, Dentex, and Pargus. The registration fee in 2023 was €800+VAT, including four anglers and boat mooring for the four days of the competition.
Big Fish Tūrkiye
Big Fish Tūrkiye Website (Turkish only) – 26-29 September 2024
Big Fish Türkiye was launched in 2007 by Ertuğrul and Gaye İçingir and has been staged from Çeşme Marina since 2021. This four-day (two days of competition) annual off-shore fishing competition gathers passionate anglers from across the country and internationally to compete in big-game fishing, mainly targeting large fish species such as tuna, swordfish, and blue marlin.
The event includes a “skippers meeting” on Friday evening (17:30), a party on Saturday evening (19:00-22:00) and the awards ceremony and dinner on Sunday evening (from 19:30). In 2019, the event hosted 55 boats and more than 300 participants. Big Fish Türkiye has highlighted sustainable fishing practices in recent years, aligning with global efforts to conserve marine ecosystems. This is reflected in promoting responsible fishing techniques and respect for local wildlife, including the principle of “Catch-Leave-Live”. The tournament has become a key event on the calendar for big-game fishing enthusiasts, offering participants a chance to test their skills in the rich waters of the Aegean Sea while enjoying the scenic beauty of Çeşme.