Fishing in Valencia

Information on freshwater and sea fishing and angling and the permits required for the fresh water rivers, lakes and seas of the Spanish east coast. Information includes contacts for local fishing associations.

A fishing license, or rod licence, (permiso de pesca) is required to fish both inland and sea waters in Spain.

For those not already holding a foreign fishing permit, permits for fishing in Castellón and Valencia are issued by the Consellería de Medio Ambiente. Applicants must supply personal information and specify at which reserves they wish to fish.

Consellería de Medio Ambiente Valencia
At: C/ Gregorio Gea 27, 46009 Valencia
Tel: 963 866 000
Fax: 963 866 252
Consellería de Medio Ambiente Castellón
At: Avda. Germans Bou 47, 12003 Castellón de la Plana
Tel: 964 358 000

Holders of an existing foreign licence will not be required to take an exam in Spanish and may obtain a fishing licence online from Telelicencia.

Telelicencia
At: Corazon de Maria 68 1G, 28002 Madrid
Tel: 902 300 622 / 914 161 101
Website
e-mail

Licences are free in some regions for residents of Spain over the age of 65.

Fishing insurance (seguros de pesce) for civil liability may be required when applying for the licence. Inquire prior to applying for a license, as this insurance is not required in all regions of Spain.

Fishing in rivers, estuaries or lakes also requires an angling licence, which can be obtained from many fishing shops, some Caja Rural and Caja Mar Banks, or from the local office of the Ministry of the Environment (Minsterio de Medio Ambiente). Trout fishing usually requires an additional daily permit (licencia de pesca rio con recargo trucha), which essentially buys temporary membership to a local fishing club.

Failure to obtain the necessary permits and licences can result in large fines and confiscation of fishing equipment. Some anglers choose to hire professional tour operators to obtain the required permits, licences and insurance.

Fishing Waters

There are both public and private waters in Spain. An additional permit may be needed to fish in some. There are three types of fishing environment:

Free (libros): These waters do not need a special permit
Restricted (cotos): These are waters that do require a permit
Fisheries (intensivos): Permits for these waters are often available in local shops

The fishing season varies based on the particular species of fish. Most rivers have restrictions on the numbers of licences issued per day and the quantity and size of the fish that may be caught.

The website of the Spanish Fishing and Casting Association (Federación Española de Pesca y Casting) has information on fishing sites and regulations.

For further information, see the Spanish Fishing and Casting Association website: Click here (in Spanish)

Fishing in Valencia

In Valencia, both salt-water and fresh-water fishing are widely practised. A fishing fee must be paid to fish in certain areas (pesca de pago); in others fishing is free (pesca libre).

Trout, carp and black-bass can be cought in the Túria, Reatillo and Jucar rivers.

Organised sea fishing trips go to the Playa de Pinedo, Playa del Puig and Playa Malvarrosa where catches may include gilthead bream and sea bass.

Related Information

For a list of fishing clubs in the region, see The AngloFILE category Fishing & Angling: Fresh & Sea Water
For the Valencian Fishing Federation (Federación Valenciana de Pesca) website: Click here