Fishing in Tenerife

The waters around Tenerife feature a wide variety of game fish: the most common species are the sargo, serranos and sama. and in deeper water you can capture larger predators such as grouper or Atlantic wreckfish.

With light tackle and artificial lures you can enjoy Tenerife fishing catching bonitos or sierra as they use to call them here, barracuda, bluefish and wahoo. In greater depths and with natural bait you can also capture good examples of sama, dentex and amberjack.

Deep sea fishing in Tenerife is most productive during the summer months, when you can catch blue marlin, white marlin and various types of tuna, as well as dolphinfish and wahoo using heavy tackle (50lb and 80lb gear).

Jigging is another interesting technique to go Fishing in Tenerife. On rocky seabeds you can use long blade jigs or inchiku in depths of 70m to 150m to target the great amberjacks, samas, dentex and grouper. With smaller lures, you can also catch snapper, barracuda and sierra, amongst others. There are also very interesting areas in Los Gigantes on the west of the island.

What fish can I catch in Tenerife?

Blue marlin

Blue marlin fishing in Tenerife is best by trolling, for which you can use lures such as octopus. These fish are usually found in deeper waters of 500m or more and the best time for fishing blue marlin in Tenerife is from June to October. If you  want to go big game fishing, you better book a full day to catch these big fish.

White marlin

This fish usually moves in small groups of several fish in waters of around 100 meters deep. White marlin eats a wide variety of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. The best time for fishing white marlin in Tenerife is from June to October

Amberjack

From November to January the big amberjacks (30-50 kg) (or medregal, as they call amberjacks in the Canary Islands) become the top fish in the food pyramid. During these months you can fish in optimal conditions with live bait in calm seas, with pleasant temperatures that range between 23 and 25 °C. However, fishing with live bait requires considerable skill and knowledge.

Big Eye Tuna

Fishing in Tenerife for big eye tuna and other tunas such as bluefin tuna and albacore is easiest during the months of February, March and April.

Grouper

The best way to fish for grouper fish in Tenerife is by using natural bait (squid, mackerel, choco), via drifting or trolling. You can also fish by jigging. Once group bite, it’s important to try to "lift" it from the seabed because if it is given the slightest chance it will swim into a hole, where it can be impossible to remove it from.

If you're interested in fishing in Tenerife, you might also be interested in fishing in Barcelona, fishing in Gran Canaria and fishing in Marbella.

Autumn and winter

At this time of year the best technique for fishing Tenerife is bottom fishing. With natural bait you can fish all kinds of rockfish: snapper, sea bream, jack, scorion fish, skate etc. We recommend to use live bait (mackerel, cuttle fish or squid, for example) to target species like amberjack and sama during your fishing trips.

In winter, blue fin tuna, big eye tuna and albacore can usually be fished. Tenerife fishing of these species is best done by trolling with large lures or natural bait. Tuna can also be fished with natural bait.

Spring and summer

Tenerife fishing from spring onwards is abundant. During this time a stream of warm water comes from the south to the Canary Islands. This stream arrives first at La Gomera, before eventually reaching the other islands. This current attracts abundant nutrients for small fish such as mackerel, sardine, menhaden, etc. In turn, this small fish is the favorite food of wahoo, albacore, bonitos, white marlin and, most notable, the blue marlin. Billfish visit Tenerife from June to October, but the best months for fishing in Tenerife for marlin are the months of July and August.

What time of year is best for fishing in Tenerife?

The best time for fishing in Tenerife depends on the type of fish you want to catch. Generally, Tenerife is a great destination for fishing all year round due to its mild climate and abundance of fish. However, some specific species of fish are more abundant during certain times of the year.

For example, the best time for catching Blue Marlin is between June and October, being July and August the peak season for billfish in Tenerife. Tuna can be caught from April to November (April and May are awesome months!). The winter months from December to March are considered the best time for catching Wahoo, and the summer months from June to September are great for Mahi Mahi.

Year round, you can target snapper, sea bream, jack, scorion fish, skate, dentex, amberjack, barracuda, bonito and many other good fighting fish over the reefs with cut bait or live bait.

Additionally, the water temperature and weather conditions can affect fishing in Tenerife. Typically, the water temperature ranges from 18°C to 24°C, and the sea is generally calmest from May to September.

There’s more than sea fishing in Tenerife; you can also go Cycling, kite surfing, windsurfing, Mountain biking, wine tasting experience, whale watching, snorkeling & diving, sailing, horse riding, hiking and much much more.

Don't miss the volcano Teide, Spain's highest point and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic. The Mount Teide, the third largest volcano in the world, is surrounded by an unearthly landscape of solid lava.

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

You need a fishing licence to fish in fresh water and salt water.

Do you need a licence to fish in Tenerife?

Yes, you need a licence for both fresh water fishing in the lakes and sea fishing. The licence is issued by the regional government and it is required for both recreational and professional fishing. You can obtain the licence at the offices of the regional government or from authorized vendors such as fishing shops or online through the official government website.

The fishing charters in Tenerife normally have the fishing license included in the price. Your captain will also be informed about bag limits and minimum sizes. So, if you charter a boat the licences will be covered.

Depending on the charter fishing boat and on the duration of your fishing tour, you’ll pay more or less for the tour. The price for a shared half day trip in Tenerife is 70€ per person. Shared trips can be in the morning or the afternoon. A half day 4-hour 
private charter costs around €440 - €550, while an 8 hour private trip will cost you €1000. However, there's one charter that offers private trips from only €250.

What does the price include?

The price usually includes the captain, fishing tackle, fuel, bait & lures, drinks and licenses. Most charters also include a small sandwich; feel free to bring extra food if you want.

Once you’ve made a booking, the captain will contact you to arrange the meeting point and the departure time. Also, we recommend you contact the captain a couple of days before the tour to confirm the weather forecast.