Fishing in Tarragona

Dentex: The common dentex (Dentex dentex) is a species of fish in the sparidae family and is named for its large teeth. It is also called rozon or sama, but it is mostly known as dentex dentex. It can reach a length of about 100 cm in its adult stage, weighing approximately 14 kg. The scales acquire a greenish-gray color if young or reddish with bluish spots in adults (sometimes with a dark transverse band). It has only one dorsal fin that can hide. But the most remarkable, as we have already said, are its teeth: it has four strong fangs with which it devours its prey (although it is not dangerous for humans). It basically feeds on fish, crabs, mollusks and, its favorite, squid.

We can find it between 0 and 200 meters deep, depending on whether it is young or adult we will find it in the first case closer to the shore and in the second case deeper. We can use the bottom trolling technique with natural bait to fish it. It can be fished practically all year round, although spring is usually a very good time for fishing in Tarragona for this magnificent species.

Amberjack: The Serinola Dumerili, or also known by other names such as the Lemon Fish, Medregal Coronado, Coronado de Ley or Lecha, is a perciform fish of the Carangidae family. As for its physical characteristics, its body is long and flat with small eyes and a large and wide jaw. Its color is bluish on the back and whitish on the belly (although many have a yellowish tone). It has three fins, two dorsal and one anal, and can reach 160 cm in length and weigh 60 kg. We can fish this fish in Tarragona's fishing waters with the bottom trolling technique almost all year round.

Bluefin Tuna: The Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus) or also known as bluefin tuna or bighead tuna, is a fish of the Scombridae family. It is a species that can weigh up to 600 kilograms, which makes it one of the most prized species by Anglers. It can be fished with the trolling technique from April to August, although it can also be fished in July and August. During the Fishing in Tarragona, we can find it in the open sea.

When the tuna hunts on the surface, it can be fished spinning by casting large lures to the tuna's molas. When you are close enough to the tuna, you can throw poppers, stick baits or
poppers, stick baits or vinyls to catch it. This Fishing in Tarragona is very action-packed and spectacular as the Anglers have to be very fast and on high alert, watching live as the tuna comes out of the depths attacking the lure. It is advisable to use a good reel (such as Saltiga 4500 or 6500 from Daiwa or Stella 18000 - 20000 from Shimano). The fight with a Bluefin Tuna can easily last for more than an hour.

It is interesting to know that the Fishing area in Tarragona, between the Tarragona coast and the Balearic Islands, spawns Bluefin Tuna. The tuna are usually seen between the end of March and the end of October, although some of these individuals remain in this area all year round.

Starting from the bluefin tuna fattening farms off the coast of l'Ametlla de Mar, there are giant tuna just 2-3 miles from the coast. During the summer months, catches of huge tuna (up to 400kg) are frequent when fishing on the brumeo. Fishing in Tarragona, trolling is also possible from April to August.

Sea bream: The common sea bream is also known as red sea bream, Bogarrabella, voraz or Bogazo. Also pancho or panchito (when young). Its shape is oval and its sides are flattened. The head has a rounded shape with a reddish back and silver sides. Its fins are pink and it has black spots in the axils of its pectoral fins. It can weigh more than 6 kilos and measures between 25 and 60 cm. Bream are fished in deep water (200 - 400m deep). Juveniles are more coastal, shallow water and swim in large schools. They live in small schools of fish and as they get older they are found in deeper and sandier places. The winter months for Fishing in Tarragona are usually very interesting for big bottom fishing.

leerfish: The leerfish is a fish of the family Carangidae of the order Perciformes. It has a dorsal fin with a wide base. Its body is flat and elongated and has a relatively small head compared to the body. The jaw is provided with small teeth. It is a fast predatory fish. The leerfish basically feeds on fish such as sardines or anchovies, alachas, needlefish or mullet. Horse mackerel, jacks, bogas, castanets and mackerel, as well as cephalopods that it hunts on the edge of the rocks and sand are also part of its diet. It can gobble in one bite. The leerfish can be caught while fishing in Tarragona using the trolling technique with spets or needles between 7 and 20 meters deep.

Spring - Fishing in Tarragona in spring and summer is ideal for deep sea fishing. Fishing starts about 20 miles from the coast, where the sea bottom drops rapidly to 1000 meters. There are some spectacular fishing areas, such as "Les Mamelles" or "El Rinyò", where the sea bed rises from 1200 meters to only 200 meters. Around these mountains there is an abundance of sardines, anchovies and mackerel, which in turn are real magnets for bluefin tuna and swordfish. From April and May onwards you can start trolling and spinning for Bluefin Tuna, Albacore, and Black Tuna. It is also a good time for fishing with espets or needles to fish for leerfish or bluefish at a depth of 7 to 15 meters.

Summer - Fishing in Tarragona in summer is a good time to fish for Bluefin Tuna. This Fishing can be done offshore in the area of "El Rinyo", "La Pera" and closer to the coast: in front of l'Ametlla de Mar. Closer to the coast you can do bottom trolling with natural bait (squid, mackerel or horse mackerel) to catch a Dentex or Amberjack. Summer is also a very good time for spinning Tuna.

Autumn - Fishing in Tarragona in autumn is an excellent time for coastal trolling with small lures and sinkers to catch Bonito, Mackerel, Melva, Bacoreta, Dolphinfish, etc. It is also a good time for fishing with spinners or needles to catch leerfish or bluefish in 7m - 15m depth. Another very popular modality at this time of the year is to dive for Bonito.

Winter - Fishing in Tarragona in winter is when we most often go bottom fishing as trolling is very difficult to catch a decent piece. With bottom fishing we fish Serranos, Forkbeards, Pageles, Sargos, Sea breams and Corvinas. You can also do bottom fishing for big bream, forkbeard, conger eel, chub and grouper.

All year round - Bottom fishing can be done at any time of the year.

A few kilometers from the Fishing in Tarragona, any Angler can continue to connect with other very interesting fishing areas such as the coasts of Cambrils, Cape Salou and Tarragona, excellent areas for Tuna fishing. After a day of Fishing in Tarragona, you can also stroll through what was the capital of the Roman Empire in the Iberian Peninsula, making a journey through time in which Tarraco and Tarragona combine tradition with modernity.

In the area of Fishing in Tarragona is the city of Tarragona which has a history of its own that is evident in its streets is a city with a village spirit. Without the stress and frenzy of the big metropolis it manages to position itself as one of the strategic ports of the country and a fantastic tourist destination, all without losing its essence, charm and folklore. The city is fantastically communicated, it can be reached quickly from the Reus or Barcelona airport, by the freeway, by AVE or by other railway lines.

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

Observing the nautical charts of the province of Fishing in Tarragona - with an Anglers' eye -, there are two geographical points that immediately jump out at us: Cape Salou and the Ebro Delta. Undoubtedly, this gulf called Golfo de Sant Jordi is one of the best fishing areas in the Spanish Mediterranean. The Ebro constantly provides new food for plankton and all kinds of small fish, which, in turn, are food for large predators.

Fishing in Tarragona and the waters near the Ebro Delta is shallow and the sea bottom is sand and mud from the river. You have to sail several miles to reach depths of more than 100 meters. North of Cape Salou, however, the bottom drops much faster. The ports of Torredembarra and Vilanova i la Geltrú are very well located for deep-sea fishing.

The mouth of the Ebro is famous for its rich, shallow waters that are the preferred territory of bluefish or "Tallahams" and leerfish. Traditionally these predators have been fished by trolling, but in recent years spinning and popping have been gaining popularity in the Delta. We can also have bites of jacks, permit, sea bass and if we go deep enough into the river we can even be surprised by a 2-meter catfish.

The rocks and the fish sown by the Gulf of Sant Jordi form hot spots for jigging and bottom fishing. Depending on the depths, you can catch Dentex, Amberjack, Bonito, Mackerel, and Atlantic Bream among others.

WEATHER

Fishing in Tarragona has a climate that is not far from the typical Mediterranean climate. The temperature is usually moderate, with maximum temperatures around 29ºC and minimum temperatures around 5ºC, rarely below zero. As for rainfall, April and May are the months with the highest probability of precipitation, but storms are not usually strong or frequent. Snow is exceptional and extremely rare in this area. It is a rather humid location, usually reaching 100% humidity. Finally, in reference to the wind, the area is affected by light breezes throughout the year, but hardly ever a strong wind blows. In general, Fishing in Tarragona enjoys a pleasant climate, typically Mediterranean.

The province of Tarragona and its ports have good access by the A7 and A2 freeways. By plane you can fly to Barcelona or Reus airport. There are trains to all the towns and the AVE (high speed train) arrives in Tarragona.

Fishing in Tarragona requires a fishing license which can be obtained from the website of the Generalitat de Catalunya:

>> Obtain Recreational Surface Fishing License.

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