
Dunna
Denia, Costa Blanca (ES)
Fishing in Denia is one of the most fun outdoor activities you can do in this lovely mediterranean village. Situated half way between Valencia and Alicante, Denia has 15 km of white beaches and a great climate all year round.
Only 20 miles off Denia the seafloor plunges to 900 m depth into the the Ibiza Channel. This is the pelagic predator territory. Spearfish, albacore, little tunny and bluefin tuna are caught big game fishing in Denia. Closer to shore, we catch predators such as bluefish, barracuda, amberjack, dentex and leerfish.
Passing through the Ibiza Channel is mandatory for the large predators like the bluefin tuna and the albacore that go to spawn around the Balearic Islands and the Leon Gulf. The port of Denia is strategically well-located for big game fishing, since only 20 miles from the coast, you can find depths of 900 meters.
Around the Cape of San Antonio, the sea floor is rocky with some sandy patches: very atractive for jigging or for trolling with downrigger for dentex and amberjack. Here, bluefish and leerfish are also possible catches.
Reef fishing in Denia will produce species such as conger eel, red scorpion fish, blackspot seabream, snapper and red porgy.
The dentex (Dentex dentex) is a common saltwater fish in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and sometimes they appear in the Canary Islands, Morocco and Senegal. They have very strong teeth to feed on fish, squid and mollusca. Dentex are a great species for sportfishing and are targetted mainly trolling or jigging. The larger fish are 1m long and can weigh up to 15 kg (35 lb).
The Little tunny or False Albacore (Euthynnus alletteratus) is easily identified by the dark spots under its pectoral fins. They like warm temperate and tropical waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The larger Little Tunny weigh up to 35lb and can reach 1,2m.
The Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) has large eyes and long pectoral fins. This is why this species is also known as longfin tuna. The largest Albacore can reach up to 140 cm (4.6ft) and weigh up to 40 kg (90lb).
Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda) is a rapid fish species known for being great hunters. They have striping on their backs with silver-coloured undersides and they grow up to 30 inches long. They have a hydrodynamic body shape, even more so than larger tuna.
The Amberjack species are a game fish that are found both in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Jigging and live bait fishing are the best techniques to target these magnificent fighters. Greater Amberjack can weigh up to 170 lb (80 kg).
Spearfish (Tetrapturus) are a generic name for several species such as the shortbill spearfish and longbill spearfish. These billfish are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world: Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) are also commonly referred to as dorado, dolphin or dolphinfish. They are recognizable by their bluntly shaped heads, long dorsal fin and their bright colouring, dark blue and green on their dorsal side and yellow on their sides and underside.
The leerfish (Lichia amia) is known by anglers as being a fast, aggressive and strong fish of the Mediterranean Sea and the coastal waters from Western Africa to south Africa. Leerfish are generally found in small and loose groups rather than large schools of fish. They can grow up to 1,70m (5.5ft) and weigh up to 25kg (55lb).
Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) or simply mackerel have a great back with irregular black bands. They're very common and like the temperate waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and the northern Atlantic Ocean. Mackerel are typically between 25-35cm.
The the European barracuda (Sphyraena sphyraena) is also known as the Mediterranean barracuda. This predator is common in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. They can grow up to 1,65m and weigh over 3,5kg.
Gilt-head Bream (Sparus aurata) is a common species in the Mediterranean Sea and also in the Atlantic Ocean from Britain to Cape Verde. Popular in the Mediterranean cuisine, the fish is easily recognized by the gold bar marking between its eyes. The largest gilt-head bream are 1 metre long and can weigh up to 7kg (15lb).
The pink dentex (Dentex gibbosus) is a saltwater fish distributed from Portugal to Angola, Canary Islands and the warmer areas of the Mediterranean Sea such as southern Spain and the Gibraltar Strait area, Morocco, southern Italy, Tunisia and Algeria. The larger fish are 1,2 m long and can weigh up to 18 kg (40 lb).
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) are probably the most sought after sport fish in the world. They live in the sub-tropical and tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. Swordfish can grow over 3 meters in length and weigh more than 600 kg (1350lb).
Grouper is common name for all the bass-looking-fish from the Epinephelinae Family. This family also includes sea bass by the way. Grouper are colorful predators who like to live in rocky areas, reefs, wrecks where they can hide.
The Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a pelagic fish that can grow up to 500kg (1000lb). The biggest Bluefin Tuna every caught was 780kg (1496lb). These great fighters can be caught trolling, jigging, casting or drifting; mainly off-shore.
The best months for big game fishing in Denia are june, july and august. Albacore and bluefin tuna can be caught trolling from april to early july trolling off shore. During the summer months (july, august and september), chumming and drifting is the best technique to target bluefin tuna.
All year round you can do reef fishing and deep sea fishing in Denia. The rocky areas, wrecks and the drof offs are great places to catch snapper, red porgy, grouper, conger eel, scorpion fish just to name a few.
Inshore fishing is good from April to November. Horse mackerel, frigate tuna, little tunny, dolphinfish (mahi-mahi) and bonito are tipical catches in September & October.
With squid or cuttle fish anglers target dentex and amberjack practically all year round in the rocky areas close to Cabo de San Antonio. You can target these fish species drifting or trolling with a downrigger.
Apart from fishing in Denia you can also go cycling, kite surfing & windsurfing, mountain biking, wine tasting experience, snorkeling & diving, sailing, paragliding, hiking and much much more.
Enjoy the local food in the hundreds of bars & restaurants in Javea, Denia, Moraira and Benidorm.
Denia holds 15 km of beaches of fine and clear and small coves of great beauty, mild climate and sandy waters that form a unique marine reserve around the Mediterranean coast.
Denia is the festival village of the Costa Blanca. The Fallas, the Moors and Christians, the night of San Juan or the traditional Bous a la Mar are some of the celebrations you can't miss if you're around.
You need a fishing license to go fishing in Denia. The fishing charters in Denia normally have the fishing license included in the price, so you don't need to buy one if you're chartering a boat.
You can buy a fishing license on the website of the Generalitat Valenciana.