Fishing in Balearic Islands

The islands of the Balearic archipelago, have rocky bottoms very rich in fauna and flora. One of the best examples is the archipelago of Cabrera, now declared National Maritime Terrestrial Park, which has a great natural value. Throughout history it has been very isolated from human activity and its coastline and seabed have remained almost unchanged to the present day.

In the rocky bottoms inhabit the grouper, scorpion fish, scorpion fish (or cap roig in Mallorcan), conger eel, moray eels etc.. We will also come across sea bass, gilthead sea bream, dentex...

The great depths of 1000 meters are already a few miles from the coasts. This means that in 20 minutes you can be deep sea fishing in the Balearic Islands.

Towards the end of May, species such as bluefin tuna, albacore (albacore), swordfish, imperial marlin and dorado (llampuga) arrive. Bluefin tuna mainly pass through the Ibiza channel, continue their way through the Gulf of Valencia, pass through the Ebro Delta, to spawn in the Balearic Islands, the Gulf of Leon and other areas. During the months of May to August, the albacore traces a path through the south of the Balearic Islands. In May, June the schools move in areas called the "S" and the "Torre", located south of the island of Mallorca. In June, July the albacore move more towards the south east in areas such as "Ses Mamelles". At the end of July and in August they are already off Menorca.

August and September are very favorable months for fishing giant bluefin tuna and giant swordfish (up to 300kg). Fishing is mainly by baitcasting and the best areas are between Majorca and Ibiza, north of Cape Formenter or also an area located east of Porto Colom and Porto Cristo.

When autumn arrives you can also practice light trolling and spinning for small tuna and dolphinfish (between 1 and 10kg).

The rest of the year you can fish jigging and especially bottom and deep sea fishing. The fishing grounds are located on the edges of the continental shelf known in Mallorca as "Fonera".

Fishing depths are between 130 m and 450 m, depending on the fishing grounds chosen that day and the port in Mallorca. It is usually practiced with the Boat at anchor.

The most common fishing is for red sea bream and imperial sea bream, as well as cap roig, forkbeards, conger eels, scorpion fish, etc. They are usually very productive and varied.

The trolling and deep sea fishing season starts in May; this is when we start catching species such as bluefin tuna, albacore, swordfish, billfish and dorado (mahi-mahi). Bluefin tuna pass through the Ibiza Channel, cross the Gulf of Valencia, pass through the Ebro Delta to spawn near the Balearic Islands, the Gulf of Lions and other areas.

Recent studies have discovered why the Balearic Islands are their preferred spawning grounds. Atlantic currents from the Strait of Gibraltar hit the Balearic Islands and ocean currents from the Gulf of Lions. These conditions provide them with the ideal water temperature, salinity and food to spawn here every year.

During the months of May to August, albacore tuna head north along the southern side of the Balearic Islands.

In May and June, the good areas are the so-called "S" and "Torre", located south of Mallorca. In June and July the albacores move more towards the southeast side of the island, to areas such as "Ses Mamelles".

Late July and August are much closer to Menorca. August and September are good months to fish for giant bluefin tuna and giant swordfish up to 300 kg. Chumming is usually done and the best areas are the Alcudia area, areas between Mallorca and Ibiza, north of Cabo Formentera and also in an area east of Porto Colom and Porto Cristo.

When autumn arrives, it is possible to practice light trolling and spinning, to fish small tunas and dolphins (between 1 and 10 kg). The rest of the year you can practice jigging and especially bottom fishing. Species that are caught bottom fishing are grouper, scorpion fish, red scorpion fish, conger eel ...

The Fishing license is the administrative document nominal, individual and non-transferable, mandatory, from the age of 14, for the practice of recreational fishing from land (inland and outside waters) or from floating devices such as canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and the like (only in inland waters). It can be obtained on the website of the Gobern de les Illes Balears:

>> Obtain Recreational Surface Fishing License.

Remember that Fishing charters in the Balearic Islands usually already have a collective fishing license so you don't need to buy one if you are going to charter a boat.