Fishing in the Balearics

Recreational fishing

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General rules

Recreational fishing rules set how, where and when you may fish, and the minimum sizes. The 2011 CAIB PDF this page used to link to no longer applies. The current summary is the Government's recreational fishing handbook, updated in July 2026, and the page for each marine reserve. Town councils may add by-laws that are not in those texts. The official pages are in Spanish and Catalan.

On disfrutalaplaya we have marked five beaches in a special protection area where no fishing of any kind is allowed: Maioris, El Delta, Cala Figuereta, s'Arenalet des Verger and sa Font Celada.

Outside the reserves you may fish along the coast and in open water, keeping clear of harbours and of swimmers. Spearfishing is done free-diving, in daylight, with a visible buoy, and the diver must stay within 25 metres of the buoy. Minimum sizes inside the reserves are stricter than outside.

Limits inside the reserves

The old drawing on this page no longer matches the rules: reserves were missing and some days have changed. The cards below summarise what the CAIB and the handbook publish now. They do not replace the law. If in doubt, use the official page linked from each name.

Bay of PalmaMallorca

From shoreTuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Not in the special protection area of Cap Enderrocat, where Maioris and El Delta are.
From a boatThe same days. Squid jigs and surface trolling, every day. A three-year permit is required.
SpearfishingMondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, outside the special protection area. A one-year permit.

Migjorn, MallorcaMallorca

From shoreEvery day, except the special protection area of Cala Figuereta and the closed area.
From a boatEvery day, with the same exceptions. A three-year permit.
SpearfishingMondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Not at Cala Figuereta, in the closed area, or in the Es Trenc-Salobrar park. A one-year permit.

Llevant, MallorcaMallorca

From shoreTuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. No fishing in the special protection area: that is where s'Arenalet des Verger and sa Font Celada are.
From a boatThe same days. In external waters, daytime only, except for squid jigs. A three-year permit.
SpearfishingNot allowed.

Ponent islands, El Toro, Les Malgrats and El SecMallorca

From shoreAllowed, except the islets, the high protection of El Toro and El Sec, and the shore between Cala de s'Art and Morro d'en Feliu. In the high protection of Les Malgrats, rod fishing from 1 January to 30 April, and not from the islets.
From a boatAllowed, except the high protection of El Toro and El Sec. At Les Malgrats, hand-line from 1 October to 30 April and squid jig from 1 October to 31 December. A three-year permit. In Santa Ponça bay, for now, only shore fishing and shore or boat shellfishing.
SpearfishingNot allowed.

Freus of Ibiza and FormenteraIbiza and Formentera

From shoreEvery day, except the maximum protection area and the closed area.
From a boatEvery day, with the same exceptions. In the Estany des Peix, trolling and surface trolling are not allowed. A three-year permit.
SpearfishingNot allowed.

North of MenorcaMenorca

From shoreTuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, except the special protection and closed areas.
From a boatThe same days. With a squid jig, every day. A three-year permit.
SpearfishingNot allowed.

Sa DragoneraMallorca

From shoreIn internal waters, yes, except the island shore and the islets. In external waters, no.
From a boatIn internal waters, yes, except the high protection of Els Calafats; a three-year permit. In external waters, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays; a yearly permit.
SpearfishingNot allowed.

Punta de sa CreuFormentera

From shoreCast net only.
From a boatFrom 1 July to 31 March, in more than 10 metres of water. A three-year permit.
SpearfishingNot allowed.

North-east Ibiza and TagomagoIbiza

From shoreAllowed.
From a boatAllowed, except the integral reserve. A three-year permit. Invertebrates may not be taken, except cephalopods.
SpearfishingNot allowed.

Illa de l'AireMenorca

From shoreAllowed, except from the island itself. In the special diving area, rod only.
From a boatNot in the special diving area. Surface trolling and hand-line: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Squid jig, every day. A three-year permit.
SpearfishingNot allowed.

Ses BledesIbiza

From shoreNot allowed on the islets.
From a boatAllowed, except the special protection area of Na Bosc and Na Gorra. A three-year permit.
SpearfishingNot allowed.