Everything you need to know about fishing in Palamós, from the skippers who fish here every week: what you can catch each season, the best spots, the regulations and how to enjoy it from a boat.
By Robert Blaya, skipper and founder of Divateamfishing · Updated September 2026
Palamós is one of the best places on the Costa Brava for sport fishing: a rocky coastline, the Formigues Islands about 3 miles from the harbour and very deep water close by. You can fish here all year round: bluefin tuna in spring and summer, dentex, amberjack and bonito on the coast, bottom species such as John Dory and squid at sunset. To fish you need the Generalitat's recreational fishing licence; if you go out with a charter, it's included.
Palamós has lived from the sea for centuries. Its harbour is one of the major fishing ports on the Costa Brava and its red prawn is famous all over Spain. That richness is no coincidence: off Palamós, the seabed drops very quickly into the Palamós submarine canyon, which starts at around 200 metres deep and drops to more than 2,000. Deep, food-rich water just a few miles from the harbour attracts big pelagic fish such as bluefin tuna.
Close to the coast, the rocky coves, posidonia seagrass meadows and Formigues Islands are the perfect habitat for dentex, white seabream, sea bream and amberjack. That's why in Palamós you can enjoy a quiet afternoon fishing with kids close to the coast or a day of Big Game offshore, leaving from the same harbour.
We're from here. At Divateamfishing we go fishing from Port Marina Palamós all year round, and in this guide we share what we've learned each season.
These are the species we catch most often on our trips from Palamós, with their Catalan name, the best season and how they're caught.
Up to 300 kgTonyina vermella · Thunnus thynnus
The king of the Mediterranean. In spring it feeds at the surface under the birds and is caught on spinning and popping gear; from May to August, by chumming with sardines and using stand-up gear. Recreational bluefin tuna fishing is always catch and release.
Colourful fishLlampuga · Coryphaena hippurus
Spectacular colours, jumps and runs: one of the most fun fights in the Mediterranean. It arrives with the warm water and likes to hang around floating objects offshore.
Bonítol · Bacoreta
Small, very fast and hard-fighting tuna species. They're the best way to land your first real fish, and they often bite on the same day as tuna.
Déntol · Círvia
The big predators of the rocky coast. They hunt over drop-offs and rocks and are the most sought-after trophy of inshore fishing on the Costa Brava.
Deep waterGall de Sant Pere · Besuc · Congre
John Dory, blackspot seabream, wreckfish, conger eel and forkbeard live on the walls and deep bottoms near the canyon. Every drop can bring a surprise.
At sunsetCalamar · Sípia
A relaxed trip with the sunset in the background, perfect for beginners… and for having squid for dinner that same night.
And also: sea bream, pandora, white seabream, mackerel, horse mackerel, gilthead bream, sea bass, swordfish or shark. The smaller bottom species, such as pandora, mackerel or horse mackerel, bite almost all year round and are ideal for kids on our Family Fishing.
In Palamós you can fish 12 months a year, but each season has its own fishing. This is our calendar, based on what we see on the water season after season.
| Fishing | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inshore FishingDentex, amberjack, bonito, sea bream | High | Mid | Mid | Mid | High | High | High | High | High | High | High | High |
| Big GameTuna, swordfish, shark, little tunny | Out of season | Out of season | Mid | Mid | High | Mid | High | High | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season |
| Tuna poppingTuna spinning and popping | Out of season | Out of season | High | High | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season |
| Deep Drop FishingJohn Dory, blackspot seabream, conger eel, wreckfish | Mid | Mid | Mid | High | High | High | High | Mid | Mid | Mid | Mid | Mid |
| Family FishingHorse mackerel, mackerel, pandora, sea bream | High | High | High | High | High | High | High | High | High | High | High | High |
| Squid fishingSquid at sunset | Mid | Mid | Low | Low | Mid | Mid | High | High | High | High | High | Mid |
Bluefin tuna dates depend each year on regulations and recreational fishing quotas. Ask us before booking and we'll tell you how the season is going.
Within minutes of the harbour you have rocky coastline, islets, open sea and water hundreds of metres deep. These are the main fishing areas in Palamós. Like any good anglers, we keep the exact spots for our trips.
From La Fosca and Cala s’Alguer to Cap de Planes, Castell and Cap Roig, the coast alternates between coves, rocks and posidonia meadows. This is the inshore fishing area: dentex, white seabream, amberjack and sea bream just minutes from the harbour.
A group of 16 islets about 3 miles from the harbour, with depths from 9 to more than 45 metres. It's a classic fishing and diving spot. Since 2026, there has been a protected area of about 92,000 m² around the Roman shipwreck of the Formigues where fishing is banned or heavily restricted.
A huge submarine canyon that starts at around 200 metres deep and goes beyond 2,000. Its walls and bottoms are home to deep drop fishing and the famous Palamós red prawn.
Offshore we look for bluefin tuna, mahi-mahi and other big pelagics, following the feeding frenzies, the water temperature and what the fish finder shows.
If you fish from the shore, rocky areas and breakwaters are the most productive, especially at dawn and dusk. Always respect the signs: there are restrictions in port areas and on beaches with swimmers, especially in summer. For big fish, it's best to go out by boat.
Palamós is also a diving area. If you see a diving buoy or flag, slow down and keep your distance: safety first.
We use one technique or another depending on the species and the season. On our trips the skipper teaches you each one from scratch, even if it's your first time.
Fishing well also means fishing responsibly. Here are the basics you need to know before fishing in Palamós.
To fish at sea in Catalonia, from the shore or from a boat, you need the recreational surface fishing licence issued by the Generalitat (the Catalan government). It is personal and you apply for it online.
Each species has a minimum size, and there are catch limits per person per day. Before keeping a fish, check its size and return undersized fish to the sea.
It is a protected species with its own rules: recreational fishing requires a specific authorisation from the Ministry, applied for through the PescaREC app, and only catch and release is allowed. Dates and closures change every season.
Licences are included on our trips, so you don't have to arrange anything. The skipper knows the rules for each species and will explain what you can keep and what goes back in the water.
Fishing is part of Palamós's DNA. Its trawler fleet catches the Palamós red prawn in the deep waters off the coast, a product with a Guarantee Mark since 2007 that is auctioned at the harbour's fish market.
The same harbour is home to the Museu de la Pesca (Fishing Museum), opened in 2002, and the Espai del Peix, next to the fish market, where you can discover how local fish is cooked. If you come fishing with us, it's well worth setting aside some time to visit them.
We're from here too: Palamós fishermen who one day decided to share what we love most with people from all over Europe.
Small details that make the difference between a good day's fishing and a perfect one.
Divateamfishing is the only sport fishing charter company based in the port of Palamós. We sail from Port Marina Palamós with two boats set up for fishing, a Hydrasports Vector 2500cc and a Boston Whaler Outrage 220, and offer seven types of trip for all levels. Skipper, fuel, licences, bait, tackle and drinks included.
In Palamós you can catch bluefin tuna, mahi-mahi, bonito, little tunny, dentex, amberjack, sea bream, pandora, white seabream, mackerel and horse mackerel, as well as bottom species such as John Dory, blackspot seabream and conger eel, plus squid and cuttlefish. What bites depends on the season and the technique.
You can fish all year round. March and April are the months for tuna spinning and popping; May, July and August are peak Big Game season; inshore fishing is at its best from May to January, and squid from July to November.
Yes. Palamós is one of the best spots in the Mediterranean for bluefin tuna, with fish of up to 300 kg. Recreational bluefin tuna fishing requires a specific permit and only catch and release is allowed. Licences are included on our Big Game and tuna spinning trips.
Yes. To fish at sea in Catalonia you need the Generalitat's recreational fishing licence, which you can apply for online. If you go out with a fishing charter like Divateamfishing, licences are included and you don't have to do anything.
Rocky areas and breakwaters are the most productive, especially at dawn and dusk. Always respect the signs: there are restrictions in port areas and on beaches with swimmers, especially in summer. For big species, it's best to go out by boat.
With Divateamfishing, private trips cost from €390 (squid fishing, 3 hours) to €1,090 (Big Game, 7 hours). Prices are per boat and include skipper, fuel, licences, bait, tackle and drinks. If you're coming alone, the shared charter costs from €180 per person.
Yes. Family Fishing is a 3-hour trip designed for families, with plenty of bites and learning from scratch. Squid fishing at sunset is also perfect with kids.
Yes, they're a classic fishing spot about 3 miles from Palamós harbour. Since 2026 there has been a protected area around the Roman shipwreck where fishing is banned or heavily restricted, and it's also a diving area: if you see diving buoys or flags, keep your distance.
It's the red prawn caught by the Palamós trawler fleet in deep waters off the coast. It has had a quality guarantee mark since 2007 and is auctioned at the harbour fish market.
Skipper and founder of Divateamfishing. A Palamós fisherman, he has turned his passion into a sport fishing charter with its own boats, sponsors such as Mustad and Höwk, and clients from all over Europe. He fishes out of Port Marina Palamós all year round.
Choose your trip, book online and we'll take care of the rest. See you at Port Marina Palamós.
