Western Mediterranean · fish in season in November
Peak season
European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax
Autumn is usually the most productive season; easterly blows stir the bottom and bring bass close in. From late November to February it spawns, and anglers are advised to leave it in peace.
Where: River mouths (Ebro, Llobregat and Rhône deltas), breakwaters, rocky points and surf beaches.
Shore spinning Surfcasting Trolling Minnow (hard bait) Soft plastic Small live fish Peeler crab Ragworm
Common octopus Octopus vulgaris
Present all year; in Catalonia shore anglers catch it more often in autumn.
Where: Rocky shallows, breakwaters and harbours.
Bottom fishing Handline Drifting Octopus lure Crab Fish strip
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · Peche.com
Gilt-head bream Sparus aurata
Spring (March–June) and autumn (September–November) are the seasons, with a peak just before winter when big fish feed close in. In summer it becomes picky and moves deeper.
Where: Beaches, harbour mouths, mixed sand-and-rock bottoms; in autumn and winter deeper breakwaters and steep beaches.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Float fishing Soft plastic Minnow (hard bait) Hardback crab Mussel Shrimp
White seabream Diplodus sargus
Caught all year; rough, foamy seas and the first autumn blows bring it close in. One of the most common shore-angling catches.
Where: Rocks, breakwaters, groynes, beaches mixed with rock and harbours; foamy water where waves wash the rocks.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Minnow (hard bait) Soft plastic Mussel Hardback crab Ragworm
Common dentex Dentex dentex
Autumn is the most interesting season: it feeds up before winter at 40–60 m. From late April to mid-June it spawns in the shallows and should be left alone. From December to March it is usually deeper than 80 m.
Where: Rocky ridges, drop-offs and wrecks; 10–40 m in summer, 40–60 m in autumn; at dawn and dusk.
Live bait Trolling Bottom fishing Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Small live fish Squid Cuttlefish
European squid Loligo vulgaris
First attempts in September, the real start in October; November–December are the most reliable months. It is still caught in January–February and is the most abundant winter boat catch in Catalonia.
Where: Breakwaters, harbour entrances, rocky points and lit quays at sunset and night; from a boat in water deeper than 20 m.
Eging (squid) Squid jig (egi)
In season
Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix
One of the most sought-after species on the Spanish Mediterranean coast; it returns to the beaches in spring, April–November is the best window, and the season closes in late November.
Where: Beaches, river mouths and points where bait shoals pass; surface lures work well.
Shore spinning Jigging Sabiki / feather rig Spoon Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Horse mackerel Anchovy Sardine
Source: Galaxy Kayaks · Fishing Dreams (blog)
Leerfish Lichia amia
Hunts close in when baitfish gather in autumn; monthly evidence for spring and summer is limited, so values are conservative.
Where: Harbours, harbour entrances, river mouths (around the Petit Rhône) and beaches where baitfish gather.
Live bait Trolling Shore spinning Minnow (hard bait) Popper Spoon Small live fish Squid Horse mackerel
Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda
From late summer through October it is targeted on surface feeding frenzies; approach without driving through the school.
Where: Open water with birds and surface boils; shallow grounds around 10 m such as off the Petit Rhône mouth.
Sabiki / feather rig Trolling Shore spinning Sabiki feathers Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Horse mackerel Sardine Anchovy
Common two-banded seabream Diplodus vulgaris
A resident member of the sea bream (sar) group, present all year; sources treat the sars together, so the monthly values are kept general.
Where: Rocky shores, breakwaters and harbours.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Handline Ragworm Mussel Shrimp
Flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus
Grey mullets (several species) are targeted inshore from March to December; values reflect the mullet group as a whole.
Where: River mouths, lagoon outlets and harbours.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Handline Bread Dough bait Ragworm
Common dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus
In the Balearics the season runs 25 August–31 December, busiest in September–October; between January and May it disappears from the coast. The 2026 recreational limit is 10 kg or 5 fish per person per day.
Where: Around floating objects and the shade rafts (capcers) used by professionals; recreational boats must keep more than 250 m away from them.
Trolling Boat spinning Shore spinning Minnow (hard bait) Popper Stickbait Small live fish Squid Cuttlefish
Source: Menorca.info · Mallorca Global Mag
Greater amberjack Seriola dumerili
Autumn is a good season as predators follow the bait shoals; live bait and jigging stand out.
Where: Drop-offs, offshore shoals, wrecks and rocky areas holding baitfish.
Live bait Jigging Slow jigging Metal jig Popper Minnow (hard bait) Horse mackerel Small live fish
Source: Peche.com · Peche.com · Frontiers in Marine Science
Little tunny Euthynnus alletteratus
Targeted on bait shoals in late summer and autumn; prominent in summer boat catches in Catalonia.
Where: Open water and surface boils; trolling or casting.
Trolling Shore spinning Boat spinning Minnow (hard bait) Metal jig Spoon Small live fish Sardine
Source: Peche.com · Frontiers in Marine Science
Sharpsnout seabream Diplodus puntazzo
Stood out in spring in the Catalan coastal survey; present all year but caught less often than white seabream.
Where: Deeper rocky ground and the foot of rock walls.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Mussel Hardback crab Ragworm
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · FishBase
Red porgy Pagrus pagrus
October is cited as a good month for red porgy and other sparids on rocky plateaus; sources for other months are limited.
Where: Rocky plateaus, sand–rock transitions and drop-off edges; from a boat.
Bottom fishing Slow jigging Drifting Inchiku Metal jig Squid Shrimp Fish strip
Salema porgy Sarpa salpa
Present inshore all year; being herbivorous, it is usually taken on weed or bread paste.
Where: Weedy rocks, beaches near river mouths and harbours.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Bread Dough bait Seaweed
Black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus
A resident rock dweller; rockfishing works all year. Dorsal spines are venomous—handle with care.
Where: Rocks, breakwater boulders and harbour bottoms.
Bottom fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Float fishing Soft plastic Jig head Fish strip Horse mackerel Shrimp
Common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis
Comes inshore to spawn from March to July; spring is the best season, autumn the second.
Where: Seagrass and weedy shallows, harbours; in calm seas at dusk.
Eging (squid) Drifting Squid jig (egi)
Comber Serranus cabrilla
The most frequently caught species in the Catalan recreational survey; more abundant from boats in summer.
Where: Seagrass and rocky bottoms; plentiful in northern Catalonia and the Costa Brava.
Bottom fishing Handline Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Metal jig Shrimp Squid Cuttlefish
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
Yellowmouth barracuda Sphyraena viridensis
A typical summer and autumn spinning target around harbours and islands; in October it follows bait shoals close to shore.
Where: Harbour entrances, marinas and rocky island shores; at dusk.
Shore spinning Boat spinning Live bait Minnow (hard bait) Stickbait Soft plastic Small live fish
Source: Giornale della Vela · Peche.com · Wikipedia (it)
European conger Conger conger
Taken on the bottom along harbour walls; in the cold months also from beaches.
Where: Harbour walls and rocky bottoms; at night.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Drifting Mackerel strip Squid Cuttlefish
Source: Peche.com · Garmin Italia (blog)
Blotched picarel Spicara maena
In the Catalan coastal survey it was the most abundant shore catch in winter.
Where: Breakwaters and rocky shores near seagrass.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Handline Mussel Shrimp Ragworm
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
Occasional
Common sole Solea solea
On the Camargue beaches flatfish (sole, plaice) are mostly caught from February to April.
Where: Long sandy beaches; bottom surfcasting.
Surfcasting Bottom fishing Ledgering Ragworm Lugworm Shrimp
Brown meagre Sciaena umbra
Protected: fishing for it is banned in France. Release it immediately if caught, and check local rules elsewhere.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Live shrimp Ragworm Shrimp
Source: Peche.com
Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus
Plentiful from May to October; in Catalonia it stands out in spring boat catches. A valued live bait.
Where: Harbours, breakwaters and inshore open water.
Sabiki / feather rig Jigging Sabiki feathers Soft plastic Metal jig Anchovy Sardine Squid
Source: Peche.com · Frontiers in Marine Science · Peche.com
Common pandora Pagellus erythrinus
In Catalonia boat anglers catch more of it in spring.
Where: Sandy and muddy bottoms, seagrass and deep rocky ground; bottom fishing from a boat.
Bottom fishing Handline Drifting Shrimp Squid Sardine
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus
CLOSED SEASON
Big bluefin pass off the Rhône in August–September. Fishing is tightly regulated: in the EU, authorisation, at most one bluefin per vessel per day and a sales ban apply, and live release is encouraged. Always check national rules.
Where: Offshore; only from authorised vessels.
Trolling Live bait Boat spinning Trolling lure Popper Stickbait Sardine Mackerel strip Small live fish
Source: Peche.com · Peche.com · European Union (text via eurlexa.com)
Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus
Off the Rhône delta it is mainly present from May to August.
Where: Inshore open water; sabiki feathers or small metal lures.
Sabiki / feather rig Shore spinning Float fishing Sabiki feathers Spinner Fish strip
Source: Peche.com · Frontiers in Marine Science
Dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus
PROTECTED
Protected: fishing for it is banned on the French Mediterranean coast and strictly regulated in Spain. If caught, release it promptly and carefully.
Source: Peche.com
Garfish Belone belone
Seen near the surface from April to September; September is considered the best inshore month.
Where: At the surface off calm beaches and rocky shores; float tackle or small lures.
Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Shore spinning Metal jig Soft plastic Fly Fish strip Mackerel strip Sand eel
Source: Peche.com · Peche.com · Yacht Digest
Bogue Boops boops
Plentiful inshore from April to October; good light-tackle sport and a valued live bait.
Where: Harbour mouths, breakwaters and rocky shores with seagrass.
Sabiki / feather rig Float fishing Bottom fishing Sabiki feathers Shrimp Lugworm Ragworm
Source: Peche.com · Frontiers in Marine Science
Annular seabream Diplodus annularis
A small, abundant and eager feeder, frequent in shore catches on the central Catalan coast; more often caught in the warmer months.
Where: Seagrass (Posidonia) edges, harbours and shallow mixed sand-and-rock bottoms.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Ragworm Shrimp Mussel
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science · FishBase
Sand steenbras Lithognathus mormyrus
Moves inshore as the water warms; May to October is the main season, while in winter it is scarcer and deeper.
Where: The first surf line and shallow sandy bottoms, mainly by surfcasting.
Surfcasting Bottom fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Lugworm Ragworm Mud shrimp
Source: Peche.com · Peche.com · Frontiers in Marine Science
Saddled seabream Oblada melanurus
Found inshore from April to November; summer, linked to its inshore spawning migration, is the busiest time.
Where: Near the surface along rocky points, breakwaters and calm beaches; usually on float tackle.
Float fishing Trolling Bottom fishing Minnow (hard bait) Sabiki feathers Bread Shrimp Sardine
Source: Peche.com · Peche.com · Frontiers in Marine Science
Pompano Trachinotus ovatus
Fun light-tackle sport over shallow sand; it spawns in summer. Monthly values are conservative, based on general sources.
Where: Shallow beaches and the surf line; small lures or live bait.
Shore spinning Light rock fishing (LRF) Live bait Popper Stickbait Metal jig Small live fish Fish strip
Source: Peche.com · Peche.com · Wikipedia (it)
This is the general seasonal pattern for the region, not live data. It can shift by a few weeks with water temperature, migration and the year.