Mostly a bait fish for anglers — catch them on a sabiki rig and use them live for seer, queenfish and GT. It is also known as மத்தி, सार्डिन, కవళ్లు and മത്തി. Scientific name: Sardinella longiceps.
Live lots change through the day. See all live lots
Rich, oily flavour with soft flesh; best when very fresh
Many fine bones; easier to eat when fried crisp or pressure-cooked
In our species guide, the main season for Oil sardine is September to March.
In November, our outlook shows it in season around Chennai, Goa, Kochi and Mumbai.
Annual sea fishing bans: East coast annual fishing ban (15 Apr – 14 Jun); West coast monsoon fishing ban (1 Jun – 31 Jul). Fewer boats land fresh sea fish during these weeks.
Tamil: மத்தி, Hindi: सार्डिन, Telugu: కవళ్లు, Malayalam: മത്തി, Kannada: ಬೂತಾಯಿ, Marathi: तारली.
In our species guide, the main season for Oil sardine is September to March. In November, our outlook shows it in season around Chennai, Goa, Kochi and Mumbai.
Rich, oily flavour with soft flesh; best when very fresh. Many fine bones; easier to eat when fried crisp or pressure-cooked.
Popular dishes include Mathi curry (Kerala), Mathi fry (Kerala, Karnataka), Tarli fry (Maharashtra, Goa) and Mathi vevichathu (Kerala).
On the Fishing Journey Fish Market, FSSAI-registered sellers list fresh catch as lots. Bid up to your maximum or use Buy now where it is offered, pay from your wallet within 2 hours of winning and collect the fish with your pickup code.
Mechanised and motorised boats stop fishing at sea during the annual bans (East coast annual fishing ban (15 Apr – 14 Jun); West coast monsoon fishing ban (1 Jun – 31 Jul)), so less fresh sea fish is landed in those weeks. Check the Fish Market for live lots.
Oil sardine fishing guide: bait, season and spots
