Fishing in Girona

The province of Girona has a several Natural Parks: Parque Natural de Cap de Creus, the Parque Natural de Els Aiguamolls de l'Empordà and the Parque Natural de El Montgrí, the Illes Medes and the Baix Ter. These parks have a tremendous amount of biodiversity and are of uncoutable value. The same happens at the coasts of Girona and the Costa Brava. The underwater life in Palagrugell, Cadaqués, Blanes, Palamós, Sant Feliu de Guixols, Tossa or Calella is just staggering.

Top fish species in Girona

The waters of Girona are home to hundreds of fish species, sea turtles and cetaceans. Here are our top 5 fish species for sea fishing in Girona.

Dentex

Dentex are a great species for sportfishing and are targetted mainly trolling or drifting with live bait. Squid or cutle fish are irresistable for these predators. They live around rocky areas, wrecks and reefs. The larger fish are 1m long and can weigh up to 15 kg (35 lb).

Amberjack

Amberjack is considered a hard fighting and tough fish to land for many fishermen around the world. Jigging and live bait fishing are the best techniques to target these magnificent fighters. They grow to a maximum size of to 170 lb (80 kg).

Bluefin Tuna

The Bluefin Tuna is a pelagic fish that can grow up to 500kg (1000lb). These great fighters can be caught trolling, jigging, casting or drifting; mainly off-shore.

Blackspot Seabream

Blackspot seabream is one of the most appreciated fish in the spanish cuisine. They live in deep waters and can be caught jigging (inchiku with squid tentacles) or with cut bait. They can grow up to 70 cm and weigh up to 4 kg.

Leerfish

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). Popping, spinfishing, trolling artificials, dead or live bait in shallow murky waters near beaches and estuaries, are the best way to fish for leerfish.

Spring

Spring is a great time for inshore trolling for horse mackerel, bonito, bluefish and seabass. In March, April and May are the best months for top water fishing for bluefin tuna. They form huge frenzies (sometimes pretty close to shore) and the fish can be caught trolling and casting poppers, stickbait and jigs.

Summer

Fishing in Girona during the summer is the perfect time to fish for bluefin tuna chumming. Cap de Creus, Blanes or Palamos feature impressive canyons off the coast where the seafloor plunges to over 1500 meters deep.

Autumn

Autumn is trolling time in Girona. With light tackle and small lures you'll be able to catch tuna, mackerel, frigate tuna, little tunny and dolphinfish among others. Close to the beaches, ports and estuaries bluefish and leerfish will attack dead bait.

Winter

Fishing in Girona in winter is mostly bottom fishing. Using cut bait (squid, sardine, octopus) you'll catch sea bream, snapper, jack, conger eel, scorpion fish and many other bottom feeders.

Apart from fishing in Girona you can also go cycling, kite surfing or windsurfing in Blanes or Sant Pere Pescador, mountain biking, wine tasting experience, snorkelling & diving, sailing, hiking and much much more.

Enjoy the local food in the hundreds of bars & restaurants of the area.

For sea fishing in Girona (and also for fresh water fishing) you need a license,  which can be obtained on the website from the Generalitat de Catalunya:

>> Buy a fishing licence

Remember that the fishing charters in Girona normally have the fishing license included in the price, so you don't need to buy one if you're chartering a boat.